Four Seasons Pharmacist Says | As spring comes and flowers bloom, how can children with airway allergic diseases avoid allergens?

When spring comes and flowers bloom, it is a good time to go outside and enjoy the beautiful scenery. However, it is a very painful time for children with airway allergies. They often sneeze, have runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, and even have acute airway reactions, which makes parents anxious! This is because pollen, poplar fluff, dust mites, etc. in the air are allergens.

Airway allergic diseases not only affect the quality of life of children, but sometimes even endanger their lives. For children with airway allergic diseases, avoiding contact with allergens is a very effective prevention and treatment method. Today, Yaowa will give you some tips - how to help children with airway allergic diseases avoid common allergens.

The first step to avoid dust mites

Dust mites are tiny arthropods that are commonly found in people's homes and are widely distributed. They like to live in warm (15℃～35℃), humid (humidity 50%～80%), dark environments. Common ones include house dust mites and dust mites. Children who are allergic to dust mites will experience symptoms such as nasal congestion, nasal itching, continuous sneezing, tearing, and dry cough when they come into contact with dust mite environments such as quilts, beds, and pillows.

To avoid dust mites, Yaowa has a trick

1. Keep the room clean and well ventilated, and reduce the indoor humidity (<50%-55%);

2. Use well-sealed bed boards and pillows. You can add a dust mite cover on the child's mattress.

3. Wash bed sheets and pillows in hot water (＞55℃) every week;

4. Try not to place stuffed toys, carpets, tapestries, etc. in your home.

Tip 2: Avoid pollen

Pollen is spread mainly in two forms: insect-borne and wind-borne. In addition to those colorful flowers, children are also allergic to pollen because of trees and weeds that do not seem to bloom, such as the sycamore, birch, and poplar trees that are widely planted in most cities in my country. These plants have a high pollen content and are very light, which is dispersed in the air by the wind. Children who are allergic to pollen will also experience symptoms such as nasal congestion, itchy nose, continuous sneezing, tearing, and dry cough when exposed to pollen.

To avoid pollen, Yaowa has a trick

1. When there are high-density plants near your home, try to keep the windows closed;

2. Reduce or avoid drying the sick child’s bedding outdoors;

3. Reduce the outdoor activities of children. If going to areas with high pollen density, children should wear masks;

4. If conditions permit, air filters can be installed.

Tip 3: Avoid cockroaches

Cockroaches, commonly known as "Xiao Qiang", are at their peak of reproduction in spring, with nests of cockroaches ready to move. Children who are allergic to cockroaches are not only allergic to the cockroaches themselves, but also to their secretions, excrement, and corpses.

To avoid cockroaches, Yaowa has a trick

1. Use safe insecticide to kill cockroaches;

2. Repair the gaps in the walls of your home to ensure that your home is dry and clean;

3. Cultivate good eating habits in children and do not bring food into the bedroom;

4. Clean up food residues and garbage promptly to avoid creating "food conditions" for cockroaches.

Tip 4: Avoid mold

The mold we often talk about is the common name for various fungi. These molds are very small and can only be seen under a microscope. Children who are allergic to mold often have symptoms such as coughing, sputum, and wheezing. Especially during the rainy season, parents must pay attention.

To avoid mold, Yaowa has a trick

1. Keep your home dry and ventilated, and keep humidity below 50%;

2. Bathrooms, basements, etc. need to be dehumidified regularly to avoid accumulation of residual water;

3. Sewers, kitchens, trash cans, air conditioning filters, etc. need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly to prevent mildew;

4. If the child's clothes and bedding are moldy, they need to be cleaned and disinfected in time;

5. Carpets, books, newspapers and clothing should be protected from moisture and mildew, and food should also be stored properly to prevent mildew.

Developing good living habits is also very important for children with airway allergic diseases. The key is to eat a nutritionally balanced diet, actively participate in physical exercise, and develop good work and rest habits.