If you’re one of the thousands of North Texans who suffers through the misery of fall allergies, hold on to your handkerchief: Allergy researchers at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas say the upcoming ragweed season could be the worst in decades.
“The unusually wet weather this summer means ragweed plants are big and healthy, and that’s bad news for a lot people in the local area,” says allergist Gary Gross, M.D. “Ragweed tends to be one of the worst pollens in North Texas, and I think this fall could be the worst in recent memory.”
Dallas-Fort Worth is annually ranked among the worst cities in the United States for allergies by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
So are your little snifflers suffering from allergies – or could they have a cold or virus? Here are some pointers from Presbyterian Hospital on how to tell the difference:
* Colds usually go away within a week. Allergies can persist for days, weeks, even months.
* Persistent sneezing usually signals allergies, not a cold.
* Allergies symptoms do not include fever initially, which is common with a cold.
* Itchy eyes, nose and even ears are signs of allergies.
Finally, if you’ve narrowed it down to the ragweed sniffles, try these tips:
* Keep kids indoors during the early-morning hours, when pollen counts are highest.
* After they play outside, give your child a bath or shower to wash off pollen that accumulates on her hair and skin.
* Use saline nasal sprays to wash pollen out of your child's nose.
* For mild symptoms, over-the-counter medications can be effective. If your child appears to be having a particularly troublesome reaction, see your physician.
Here's hoping your fall isn't filled with red eyes and noses!
~ Lisa
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