Is it Fall Allergies or a Cold? What Parents Should Know About Seasonal Allergies in Kids.

Fall brings plenty for kids to look forward to, from heading back to school to playing outdoor sports and enjoying cooler weather. But for kids with seasonal allergies, it can also mean weeks of stuffy noses, sneezing, watery eyes, and feeling run down.

As a pediatrician, I often see families who aren't sure whether their child's symptoms are allergies or yet another cold picked up at school. It isn’t always easy to tell. And while we sometimes think of allergies as a minor annoyance, they can take a bigger toll on kids than many parents realize.

Allergies can disrupt sleep, drain a child’s energy, make it harder to concentrate at school, and even make it difficult to keep up with sports and other activities. The good news is that once we recognize what's going on, there are several ways we can help kids feel better.
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Why fall can be tough for kids with seasonal allergies.

We tend to associate seasonal allergies with spring, but fall can be another difficult time for kids who are prone to allergies. Part of the problem is simply the change in season. We go from hot, humid summer weather to cooler, drier air. That dry air can affect the nasal passages, leaving children feeling more congested or sniffly. Pollen can also increase during the fall months and contribute to symptoms, especially for kids spending a lot of time outside. 

At the same time, fall is a busy time to be outdoors. Kids are heading to soccer practice, playing outside after school, and participating in other outdoor activities. For a child with significant seasonal allergies, all that time outside can make symptoms harder to manage.

Signs of seasonal allergies in children.

Some of the most common allergy symptoms are probably familiar. Your child may have:
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• A stuffy or congested nose

• Clear nasal drainage

• Frequent sneezing

• Itchy, watery eyes

• Pressure around the nose or face

Headaches can be another, less obvious sign. When a child's nasal passages are very congested, the pressure can sometimes lead to a dull headache around the forehead. 

Fatigue is another important symptom that parents may not always associate with seasonal allergies. Allergies can be surprisingly tiring. A child who is congested, coughing, or sneezing throughout the day is already using a lot of energy. Then they go to bed and may not sleep well because they can't breathe comfortably or keep waking to blow their nose. The next morning, they're expected to get up and do it all over again.

For kids, this can become a cycle. Poor sleep makes it harder for children to learn, focus, and remember things at school. They may come home exhausted, want to nap, seem crankier than usual, or not have the energy for their normal activities. Sometimes we need to give kids a little extra grace while we're working to get their symptoms under control. It's not necessarily "just allergies" to the child who doesn't feel like themselves.
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Does my child have allergies or a cold?

Fall presents another challenge for parents. It's also the time when kids head back to school and respiratory illnesses begin circulating again. Congestion or a runny nose can leave you wondering whether your child is dealing with allergies, a cold, or something else.

One clue is how long symptoms last. Seasonal allergy symptoms can linger for several weeks, compared to a shorter course for many common illnesses. 

Fever, on the other hand, isn't a symptom of seasonal allergies. A temperature of 100.4°F or higher is considered a fever in children and suggests we should look for another cause, such as a viral illness or an infection. 

If you aren't sure what you're dealing with, that's a good reason to check in with your pediatrician. We can look at the full picture—not just one symptom—to determine what may be going on.
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Managing your child’s fall allergies at home.

Not every child with seasonal allergies needs the same treatment. What helps depends on your child's age, symptoms, and how much those symptoms are interfering with everyday life.

However, there are some simple things families can do at home to help children feel their best during allergy season.

Support healthy habits at home.

You can't completely control what your child encounters during allergy season, especially if they love being outside. But you can help them feel better.

Start with the basics. Drinking enough water, eating a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables, and getting plenty of sleep are especially important when allergy symptoms are already draining a child's energy.

As the weather gets colder and the air inside your home becomes drier, a humidifier may help children who are bothered by dry, congested nasal passages. Some families may benefit from HEPA filtration in the home as well. 

Give allergy medicine time to work.

For many kids, over-the-counter allergy medicines can make a big difference. Depending on your child's age and symptoms, treatment may include an oral antihistamine or a corticosteroid nasal spray. The word "steroid" can understandably make parents hesitant about nasal sprays. But a corticosteroid sprayed into the nose isn't the same as taking a steroid by mouth, which can affect the whole body. Nasal sprays are commonly used to safely reduce swelling and congestion in the nasal passages. 

Your pediatrician can help you determine which medication is appropriate for your child's age and symptoms and how to use it correctly.

It's also important to have realistic expectations about how quickly treatment will work. Some allergy medicines need time to have their full effect. If you've given a treatment time to work and your child still isn't getting relief, that's a good time to check in with your pediatrician rather than continuing to try different options on your own. 

Pay closer attention if your child has asthma or eczema.

Allergies don't always occur on their own. We often see seasonal allergies, asthma, and eczema in the same children. This connection is especially important for kids with asthma. Seasonal allergies can trigger worsening asthma symptoms or an asthma attack, so controlling allergies can be an important part of managing a child's asthma, too. 

Eczema may also flare around seasonal changes. Seasonal allergies don't directly cause eczema, but if your child deals with both conditions, you may notice them becoming more troublesome around the same time of year.
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Your pediatrician is a good place to start for fall allergy relief.

Parents sometimes assume that a child with allergies needs to see an allergist. But in many cases, your pediatrician can be your first stop. We can help determine whether your child's symptoms are consistent with seasonal allergies, recommend treatment, and make adjustments if what you've tried at home isn't providing enough relief.

It's particularly important to call your pediatrician if your child develops a fever, you're not sure whether allergies or an illness are causing their symptoms, or symptoms are interfering with sleep, school, energy, or normal activities. If we've tried different approaches and your child still isn't getting relief, we can also determine whether it's time to see an allergist for additional evaluation or allergy testing. 

Ultimately, we don't want kids simply pushing through weeks of feeling tired and congested because "it's just allergies." With the right approach, we can help them sleep better, feel more like themselves, and have the energy to learn, play, and enjoy the season.