Winter Season Allergies: A Comprehensive Guide

As winter season is in full swing, so are seasonal allergies that have you coughing and sneezing like you’ve got the flu. Bear in mind that this isn’t anything like your usual influenza outbreak that you can get vaccinated for, these are just allergies that your kids might get from exposure to different allergens. The more technical name for this condition is allergic rhinitis or hay-fever, where you get flu-like symptoms that have nothing to do with the flu-virus itself. Some common symptoms of hay fever include:

Runny nose
Itchy eyes, mouth or skin
Sneezing
Congestion
Fatigue

Treating these allergies is pretty simple, you just have to keep your kids away from the allergen, the real problem is finding out what they’re allergic to. Let’s take a look at some of the more common causes of winter allergies.

Causes of Hay Fever

These allergies are not to be confused with those that people get in the spring, summer or fall seasons. Most allergic reactions during the winter are likely from indoor irritants and probably show up time to time throughout the year but usually go ignored under the guise of other outdoor allergies. Since there few to none airborne pollutants around during the winter months, your child’s allergic reactions are easily traced back to indoor allergens.

Why Do Allergies Occur?

People with allergies have different immune systems from everyone who doesn’t. Their immune systems treat allergens like potential viruses and begin attacking these to prevent an infection which probably might never happen. The symptoms observed during an allergic reaction are actually an immune response to these allergens. Some common indoor allergens include:

Dust Mites

Dust mites are one of the microscopic insects that feed on the dead skin we shed every single moment. These mites are part of common household dust that doesn’t really pose any major threat to your body. The accumulation of dust in your house during winter seasons is one of the most common reasons why your child is complaining of allergy symptoms.

Mold

Mold grows both indoor and outdoor, particularly when there’s moisture around. Leaky pipes often create the right environment for mold growth, especially indoors where it’s relatively warmer compared to the outside. Mold typically grows in dark areas with little ventilation and since your home is shut up during the winter season, it’s more likely to take root there than anywhere else.

Pet Allergens

Shedding fur or dry skin often gets caught on furniture, carpets or might take flight to cause allergic reactions. You should make sure that your pets aren’t shedding if someone in the house is showing signs of an allergy. A thru Z Pediatrics is a collection of primary care pediatrics San Antonio, Texas. With a pediatric medical center at Ewing Halsell and clinics at E.Sonterra Boulevard in San Antonio, we offer a wide range of medical services for babies, children, and adolescent. Explore our website today for more information on our services or to make an appointment with our child specialists.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have concerns about your child's health, call your A thru Z Pediatrics office.