This season is all about the achooo-achooo and as a parent, you constantly wonder why your child is sneezing. I try and be extra cautious and keep my kids away from every possible dust surface but there is only this much I can control and keep clean around kids. But there are times my child sneezes even when there is no dust around. What causes that?
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Paediatric specialist Dr Barkha Chawla says:
Summer is back, the heat is on and so are allergies.
Allergic rhinitis is a condition which causes inflammation of the upper airways causing blocked or runny nose or sneezing for more than an hour on most of the days.
Though not fatal, it is a major cause of morbidity in young children affecting daily activities.
What causes this:
- A genetic predisposition is well known and so are so are associations with other allergic conditions like Asthma.
- Skin allergies.
Common allergens are:
- Pollens ( tree, grass, weed)
- Dust and dust mites especially in thick carpets, curtains and upholstery.
- Mold
- Cockroach droppings
- Animal dander, pet hair
- Smoke (cigarettes or tobacco)
- Air Pollution (chemicals/ wood smoke )
- Strong odours from perfumes, cologne, hairspray, essence sticks
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Now that monsoon is here as well, how do we protect the kids?
The fluctuations in temperature during the monsoons can cause nose blockage and headaches. One minute it's pouring cats and dogs and the temperature has dipped; a few minutes later the sun is out and the humidity is through the roof. You don't know whether to dress your child in full sleeves when they sleep or let them run around in their bare necessities since it is so hot and sticky.
What Can You Do: Build up the body’s resistance by giving your children multivitamin supplements. Vitamin C & E help reduce the chances of falling sick by charging up their antibodies to fight the common cold virus faster. Make sure you all eat a healthy diet of fresh fruits and vegetables which are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to boost your child's immunity. Check out some home remedies here that can help your child when he/she has a cold/flu.
If cough and cold are common issues in your house, here is why you need to resort to effective home remedies to find a long-term cure for the "achooo"s! Frpm turmeric milk to hot water with ginger and honey, there are numerous things you can do in your kitchen to get rid of that cold! Click here to find out the complete list of effective home remedies you need to try for curing your child's cough and cold.
Parul Gupta
Neha Savla
Janani S Koushik
Mansi Zaveri
KSP Team
