Many parents confuse mild to moderate allergies with instances of the common cold, which is understandable. Symptoms are similar, ranging from coughing, sneezing and runny nose to swollen, itchy nose and eyes. And in the autumn, which is kick-off season for both allergies and colds, children are just as disposed to pick up either one. Unless, it appears, you live in the southern United States. New research being presented this week at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology has found that children who live in the South are more likely to experience signs and symptoms of hay fever.
The AAAI estimates that approximately 50 million Americans experience some form of allergies, and up to 18 percent of kids in the U.S. are affected by hay fever specifically. Researchers focused on reports of 91,642 children age 17 or younger who participated in the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health. The survey found that the majority of hay fever-affected children were living in the southern U.S., while the states that experienced the least frequency of hay fever were Alaska, Montana and Vermont. While the exact cause of the disparity is unknown, these circumstances lead researchers to believe that the cause is most likely environmental, and related to factors such as temperature, precipitation and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Hay fever, known also as allergic rhinitis, is most likely to affect people in the spring and fall months.
"According to the study, wetter regions with average humidity were associated with a decreased number of children with hay fever," said Michael Foggs, MD, ACAAI president-elect. "The study also found areas of the South with warm temperatures and elevated UV indexes seem to harbor more hay fever sufferers."
How to cope with a hay fever allergy
Though instances of the allergies are more prevalent in the southern regions, researchers don't advocate that parents consider relocating in order to escape the illness. Instead, parents should work on limiting their child's exposure to allergy triggers and seeking the appropriate medications from the child's pediatrician.
Most who are allergic to hay fever can blame ragweed as the culprit, however, there are other grasses that may affect their symptoms or cause a flare-up. Learning what these triggers are and avoiding them when possible can help reduce the severity of symptoms. Using an air purifier in the home and keeping the windows up during car rides can also help keep symptoms at bay.
In some cases, prescription medication may be the best solution for the child. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are a number of available treatments, including antihistamines, corticosteroids, decongestants and vaccinations. Talking to a doctor or pharmacist may help ascertain what's best for an individual child.
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