These have a broad spectrum of activity and include the following drugs:Cefotaxine (Biotax, Clazforn, Omnatax), Ceftazidime (Fotum), Ceftizoxime (Cefizox), Cefoperazone (Magnamycin), Ceftriaxone (Cefaxone, Monocef), Cefixime (Cefspan, Topcef), Cefdinir (Adcef), Cefpodoxime (Cepodem) Ceftibuten (Procadax).
Due to their ability to penetrate the central nervous sxstem, third-generation cephalosporins - except cefoperazone and cefixime - can be used to treat meningitis, including meningitis caused by pneumococci, meningococci, H influenzae, and susceptible gram-negative rods (bacillary infections of alimentary system). Cefoperazone and ceftazidine are effective in pseudomonas infections of various body organs. In these infections an aminoglycoslde such as gentamicin is also given. Other potential indications include sepsis of unknown causes in the immunocompetent patient and susceptible infections in which cephalosporins are the least toxic drugs available. In neutropenic, febrile immunocompromised patients, third-generation cephalosporins can be effective if used in combination with an aminoglycoslde. They are commonly used in hospital settings in patients with serious systemic infections. Ceficime, cefdinir, cefpodoxime and ceftibuten are effective orally also.
Fourth-Generation Cephalosporins
Cefepime (Kefage) can be used in resistant infections due to gram negative rods and staphylococci causing septicemia. Cefpirome (Cepodem, Cefoprox) has same utility as cefepime. These are very expensive.
Adverse Effects of Cephalosporins: Allergy: Cephalosporins are sensitizing and may variety of hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, fever, skin rashes, nephritis, granulocytopenia, and hemolytic anaemia. The chemical nucleus of cephalosporins is sufficiently different from that of penicillins, enabling some individuals with a history of penicillin allergy to tolerate cephalosporins. However, patients with a history of anaphylaxis to penicillins should never receive cephalosporins.
Toxicity: Local irri!ation can produse severe pain after intramuscular injection and thrombophlebitis after intravenous injection. Renal toxicity, including interstitial nephritis (kidney tissue swelling) and even tubular necrosis, has been demonstrated and has caused the abandonment of cephaloridine.
Cephalosporins that contain a methylthiotetrazole group (for example, ceftriaxone, cefoperazone) frequently cause hypoprothrombinemia and bleeding disorders. Adminstration of vitamin K, 10 mg twice weekly, can prevent this. White cells count and platelet count are reduced in rare cases.
Drugs with the 'methylthiotetrazole ring can also cause severe reaction with alcohol (intolerance), consequently, alcohol and alcohol-containing medications must be avoided.
Super-Infection
Many second and particularly third generation cephalosporins are ineffective against grampositive organisms, especially stayphylococci and enterococci. During treatment with such drugs, these resistant organisms, as well as fungi, often proliferate and may induce super infection.
Linezolid (Lizolid, Linox)
It is effective in resistant pneumococci, staphylococci and enteric organisms induced infections. It may cause suppression of bone marrow and interacts with decongestant drugs whose dose should be reduced.
Fluoroquinolones
Ciprofloxacin (Cipad, Ciplox, Cipride), Norfloxacin (Anquin, Biofloxin, Norflox), Ofloxacin (Travid, Zanocid), Pefloxacin (Peflox, Piflasyn), Lomefloxacin (Lomef), Sparfloxacin (Torospar), Levofloxacin (Loxof), and Gatifloxacin (Gatri)
In 1990 fluoroquinolones were introduced to tackle ever increasing menace of resistance gram-negative rods. Since then many more drugs have been developed which have effects against both gram positive and negative bacteria, anaerobes and tuberculosis organisms. These drugs affect the DNA of bacteria. Unfortunately due to overuse, resistance is becoming the problem again.
Ciprofloxacin is presently a drug of choice for typhoid fever, (chloramphenicol is no longer used) gonorrhoea, abdominal (bowel) infections and diarrhoea, soft tissue and bone infections. It can be used 500 mg twice a day orally or intravenously in serious cases.
Adverse Effects: Some of the adverse effects of ciprofloxacin are loss of appetite, nausea and bowel upset, dizziness, restlessness, loss of sleep, poor concentration and tremulousness (avoid driving). Drug allergy may cause skin eruptions. A potentially serious problem is that it may cause cartilage damage as based on animal studies so should be used sparingly in children (although it is best to avoid it). Theophylline, caffeine, warfarm show toxicity when taken with ciprofloxacin and require staggering or reduction in dose. Pain relievers may cause more CNS adverse effects of ciprofloxacin. Antacids, milk and iron salts reduce absorption of ciprofloxacin, therefore, do not take with milk or after meals.
Norfloxacin is less potent to ciprojloxacin but is effective in the treatment of urinary tract infection and diarrhoea. Its usual dose is 400 mg twice a day in adult and it is not recommended for children.
Pefloxacin is a good drug for meningeal infections and typhoid fever. A single dose of 400 cures gonorrhoea.
Ofloxacin is effective in urethritis, cervicitis and atypical pneumonia. It is useful in tuberculosis also. Food does not reduce its absorption.
Sparfloxacin has greater activity to treat pneumonia, sinus infection, and ear infections, It is longer acting so it given in a dose of 200-400 mg once a day. It may cause disturbed heart beats particularly when other drugs are given along with it (drugs for depression and cisapride).
Gatefloxacin is like sparfloxacin in action and is increasingly used for the treatment of pneumonia, gonorrhoea, and urinary passage infections. Usual dose is 400 mg once a day. It has the same drawbacks as sparfloxacin.
Levofloxacin is completely absorbed orally and is less likely to interact with drugs (unlike ciprojloxacin and others). High cure rates are achieved in pneumonia, sinusitis, acute kidney infections and soft tissue infections. It is used in a dose of 500 mg once a day.
By: Franchis
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Cigarretes Is Bad For Your Lungs
How do cigarettes cause lung melanoma? Besides containing many toxic gases, the tar found in your preferred make has a lot of pest-causing substances (carcinogens) as well as cocarcinogens which mushroom the production of menace cells. The leads to the development of small chamber (oat) carcinoma, the deadliest form of lung melanoma, and squamous section growth - both of which are mostly found in smokers.
"Your attempt of lung canker increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke each day, the number of living you smoke, the quantity of smoke you gasp, and the quantity of tar and nicotine in the cigarettes you smoke," said Dr. David E. Larson, editor-in chief of the "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book." While lung bane is primarily a chap riddle, many women now have the disease, maybe because the number of female smokers has bigger. In the United States, lung evil has surpassed breast disease in language of sarcoma deaths in women. "The advanced charge of tobacco-allied cancers among men echo the reality that in the onwards, more men than women smoked, and smoked solidly. In current existence, the proportion of smokers among males has been steadily decreasing in many urbanized countries. Unfortunately, the proportion of smokers among women has been steadily increasing all over the world," according to Drs. Adriano V. Laudico, Divina B. Esteban, Corazon A. Ngelangel, and Lilia M. Reyes in "Cancer Facts and Estimates." "With many more women smoking than ever before, the number of women with lung blight has better at an alarming figure, so that smoking is now responsible for 75 percent of all lung cancers in women. The scourge measured for female smokers is 67 percent senior than for nonsmokers," said Marrion Morra, helper executive of the Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center at Yale University in Connecticut, and Eve Potts in "Choices: Realistic Alternatives in Cancer Treatment." Even nonsmokers aren't secure from the onslaught of lung blight. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that between 500 and 5,000 gear of lung evil play each year in nonsmokers as a result of inhaling superstar moreover's smoke. The plane rivulet smoke inhaled by a nonsmoker has a higher percentage of tar, nicotine, and other poisonous gases - all which contribute to lung blight. "The tobacco business likes to tell people that there are other causes of lung blight. Nevertheless there is no denying the reality that smoking is a foremost cause of the disease. I don't think we have to look for other causes," said Dr. Calixto Zaldivar, previous principal of the Lung Center of the Philippines. Other gamble factors for lung cancer include exposure to industrial carcinogens such as asbestos, chromium compounds, radioactive ores, nickel, arsenic, and other irritating substances.
By: Jon Simms
"Your attempt of lung canker increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke each day, the number of living you smoke, the quantity of smoke you gasp, and the quantity of tar and nicotine in the cigarettes you smoke," said Dr. David E. Larson, editor-in chief of the "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book." While lung bane is primarily a chap riddle, many women now have the disease, maybe because the number of female smokers has bigger. In the United States, lung evil has surpassed breast disease in language of sarcoma deaths in women. "The advanced charge of tobacco-allied cancers among men echo the reality that in the onwards, more men than women smoked, and smoked solidly. In current existence, the proportion of smokers among males has been steadily decreasing in many urbanized countries. Unfortunately, the proportion of smokers among women has been steadily increasing all over the world," according to Drs. Adriano V. Laudico, Divina B. Esteban, Corazon A. Ngelangel, and Lilia M. Reyes in "Cancer Facts and Estimates." "With many more women smoking than ever before, the number of women with lung blight has better at an alarming figure, so that smoking is now responsible for 75 percent of all lung cancers in women. The scourge measured for female smokers is 67 percent senior than for nonsmokers," said Marrion Morra, helper executive of the Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center at Yale University in Connecticut, and Eve Potts in "Choices: Realistic Alternatives in Cancer Treatment." Even nonsmokers aren't secure from the onslaught of lung blight. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that between 500 and 5,000 gear of lung evil play each year in nonsmokers as a result of inhaling superstar moreover's smoke. The plane rivulet smoke inhaled by a nonsmoker has a higher percentage of tar, nicotine, and other poisonous gases - all which contribute to lung blight. "The tobacco business likes to tell people that there are other causes of lung blight. Nevertheless there is no denying the reality that smoking is a foremost cause of the disease. I don't think we have to look for other causes," said Dr. Calixto Zaldivar, previous principal of the Lung Center of the Philippines. Other gamble factors for lung cancer include exposure to industrial carcinogens such as asbestos, chromium compounds, radioactive ores, nickel, arsenic, and other irritating substances.
By: Jon Simms
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Allergic reaction
Anthony Marshall's suggestion to add allergies in a hotel handbook ["The hospitality industry finally is being thrown to the dogs," Nov. 3, page 10] is a good idea. Which handbook is he suggesting?
Gus Sader
Chairman/c.e.o.
Royal Regency Hotels & Resorts
San Diego
Via e-mail
Mr. Marshall's response: In a nutshell, place a person who is allergic to dog hair in a room that is doggy friendly, and serious complication can arise--even death. How does a hotel avoid such liabilities?
* Don't take dogs.
* Place a readable sign at the reception desk indicating the hotel is dog friendly and that guests should alert the desk clerk at check-in that they are allergic to dog hair.
* Place a similar sign in each dog friendly room indicating it's a doggy room. Liability becomes a big issue in situations in which a guest didn't know something and hotel personnel did.
I'd train all reception desk personnel, reservation clerks, etc. about the importance of not placing allergy prone individuals into a doggy room. I'm always asked, "smoking or nonsmoking room, sir?" For dog friendly hotels, a similar question comes to mind.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Questex Media Group, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning
Gus Sader
Chairman/c.e.o.
Royal Regency Hotels & Resorts
San Diego
Via e-mail
Mr. Marshall's response: In a nutshell, place a person who is allergic to dog hair in a room that is doggy friendly, and serious complication can arise--even death. How does a hotel avoid such liabilities?
* Don't take dogs.
* Place a readable sign at the reception desk indicating the hotel is dog friendly and that guests should alert the desk clerk at check-in that they are allergic to dog hair.
* Place a similar sign in each dog friendly room indicating it's a doggy room. Liability becomes a big issue in situations in which a guest didn't know something and hotel personnel did.
I'd train all reception desk personnel, reservation clerks, etc. about the importance of not placing allergy prone individuals into a doggy room. I'm always asked, "smoking or nonsmoking room, sir?" For dog friendly hotels, a similar question comes to mind.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Questex Media Group, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning
Friday, September 12, 2008
Increase in severe pneumonia in children may be caused by vaccine
By Jeremy Laurance, Health EditorMonday, 14 April 2008
Cases of a life-threatening form of pneumonia that affects the young are rising rapidly in Britain. It now affects around 1,000 children a year. The cause of the increase is unknown but experts fear a vaccine in the immunisation programme could be contributing.
This severe pneumonia infects the lining of the lungs called the pleura, making it hard to breathe. It requires hospital admission to drain the chest cavity. The children affected are frightened and in pain and many und-ergo surgery to scrape out the contents of the pleura – a process called surgical debridement.
Child health specialists say cases of the pneumonia, known as serotype 1, have risen tenfold in a dec-ade. They warn that a vaccine against pneumococcal disease called Prevenar, introduced in 2006, could be fuelling the rise.
The vaccine is given at two, four and 13 months and provides protection against seven of the commonest types of pneumonia. It is safe and highly effective – cases of invasive pneumococcal disease caused by the serotypes covered by the vaccine have fallen by 90 per cent in two years. But there are more than 90 known strains of the bacterium that causes pneumonia. When one is eliminated, it creates an opportunity for another to take its place. In the US, where Prevenar was introduced in 2000, researchers have reported an emergence of "sero-replacement" disease – types of pneumonia not covered by the vaccine.
David Spencer, consultant respiratory paediatrician at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, will present figures on the growth in pneumococcal disease to the Royal College of Paediatrics annual conference in York today. He said: "It looks as if serotype one is becoming more virulent. We have had four cases in the past week in Newcastle with empyema [the accumulation of septic fluid in the pleural cavity]. These children are seriously ill and suffer a lot of pain."
Serotype 1's rise in the UK began 15 years ago, long before the Prevenar vaccine was introduced. Although its increase in the past could not be explained by the vaccine, Dr Spencer said evidence from the US suggests it is a risk in the future.
"I contacted the Health Protection Agency [HPA] 18 months ago and expressed concern that there was a potential for the vac-cine to make things worse. The increase in other sero-types in the US may be due to the vaccine there." The HPA immediately expanded its surveillance programme, Dr Spencer said.
Linda Glennie, head of research at the Meningitis Research Foundation, which is funding the surveillance programme with the HPA, said the challenge was to keep one step ahead of nature. "The Prevenar vaccine saves lives. Other strains are starting to increase but the number of cases prevented hugely outweighs cases increased."
Two companies are wor-king on vaccines to protect against up to 13 serotypes of the disease, including serotype 1. But they are at least two years away, Dr Glennie said. The ultimate goal would be a vaccine for all pneumococcal disease.
'Two GPs and a nurse said my son had a virus' - Robbie Barnes, 18 months
Eighteen-month-old Robbie Barnes started vomiting just over two weeks ago. His mother Vanessa thought he had a virus.
Vanessa, 36, from Middlesbrough, said: "He is normally fit, running all over the place. He had a temperature, vomited the next day – and it went on.
"I took him to an emergency doctor twice and to my GP, where I saw the practice nurse. They all said it was a virus and it would go in a few days. He couldn't sleep because he was struggling to breathe."
In desperation, Vanessa took him to their local A&E department, where an X-ray revealed severe pneumonia. "I was devastated. I was expecting a chest infection but not pneumonia," she said.
Robbie was put on oxygen. His lungs were so badly infected he was transferred to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, where surgeons operated to clean out pus and septic fluid gathered in the pleural cavity between the chest wall and lungs.
Vanessa said: "He is a lot perkier now. He is still a bit wobbly on his feet because he has got no strength. He is on the mend – but it was all quite frightening."
Cases of a life-threatening form of pneumonia that affects the young are rising rapidly in Britain. It now affects around 1,000 children a year. The cause of the increase is unknown but experts fear a vaccine in the immunisation programme could be contributing.
This severe pneumonia infects the lining of the lungs called the pleura, making it hard to breathe. It requires hospital admission to drain the chest cavity. The children affected are frightened and in pain and many und-ergo surgery to scrape out the contents of the pleura – a process called surgical debridement.
Child health specialists say cases of the pneumonia, known as serotype 1, have risen tenfold in a dec-ade. They warn that a vaccine against pneumococcal disease called Prevenar, introduced in 2006, could be fuelling the rise.
The vaccine is given at two, four and 13 months and provides protection against seven of the commonest types of pneumonia. It is safe and highly effective – cases of invasive pneumococcal disease caused by the serotypes covered by the vaccine have fallen by 90 per cent in two years. But there are more than 90 known strains of the bacterium that causes pneumonia. When one is eliminated, it creates an opportunity for another to take its place. In the US, where Prevenar was introduced in 2000, researchers have reported an emergence of "sero-replacement" disease – types of pneumonia not covered by the vaccine.
David Spencer, consultant respiratory paediatrician at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, will present figures on the growth in pneumococcal disease to the Royal College of Paediatrics annual conference in York today. He said: "It looks as if serotype one is becoming more virulent. We have had four cases in the past week in Newcastle with empyema [the accumulation of septic fluid in the pleural cavity]. These children are seriously ill and suffer a lot of pain."
Serotype 1's rise in the UK began 15 years ago, long before the Prevenar vaccine was introduced. Although its increase in the past could not be explained by the vaccine, Dr Spencer said evidence from the US suggests it is a risk in the future.
"I contacted the Health Protection Agency [HPA] 18 months ago and expressed concern that there was a potential for the vac-cine to make things worse. The increase in other sero-types in the US may be due to the vaccine there." The HPA immediately expanded its surveillance programme, Dr Spencer said.
Linda Glennie, head of research at the Meningitis Research Foundation, which is funding the surveillance programme with the HPA, said the challenge was to keep one step ahead of nature. "The Prevenar vaccine saves lives. Other strains are starting to increase but the number of cases prevented hugely outweighs cases increased."
Two companies are wor-king on vaccines to protect against up to 13 serotypes of the disease, including serotype 1. But they are at least two years away, Dr Glennie said. The ultimate goal would be a vaccine for all pneumococcal disease.
'Two GPs and a nurse said my son had a virus' - Robbie Barnes, 18 months
Eighteen-month-old Robbie Barnes started vomiting just over two weeks ago. His mother Vanessa thought he had a virus.
Vanessa, 36, from Middlesbrough, said: "He is normally fit, running all over the place. He had a temperature, vomited the next day – and it went on.
"I took him to an emergency doctor twice and to my GP, where I saw the practice nurse. They all said it was a virus and it would go in a few days. He couldn't sleep because he was struggling to breathe."
In desperation, Vanessa took him to their local A&E department, where an X-ray revealed severe pneumonia. "I was devastated. I was expecting a chest infection but not pneumonia," she said.
Robbie was put on oxygen. His lungs were so badly infected he was transferred to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, where surgeons operated to clean out pus and septic fluid gathered in the pleural cavity between the chest wall and lungs.
Vanessa said: "He is a lot perkier now. He is still a bit wobbly on his feet because he has got no strength. He is on the mend – but it was all quite frightening."
Monday, August 25, 2008
LOBAR PNEUMONIA
Lobar pneumonia is an acute form of infection. It is caused by the Pneumococcus bacterium. The generic name of this bacterium is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Lobar pneumonia usually follows an extreme form of viral respiratory infection, particularly of the upper respiratory tract. The symptoms of lobar pneumonia are chest pain during breathing, or cough and fever accompanied by chill and shaking. The patient’s body temperature hovers around 104° F (roughly 40° C). The sputum is blood streaked. Notably, most of the deaths before the invention of antibiotics were due to lobar pneumonia. Lobar pneumonia generally attacks a lung lobe or a portion of it. At times, lobar pneumonia strikes both the lungs; then it is known as double pneumonia
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
BACTERIAL PNEUMONIA
Bacterial pneumonia can attack anyone from infants through the elderly. Alcoholics, the debilitated, post-operative patients, people with respiratory diseases or viral infections and people who have weakened immune systems are at greater risk.
Pneumonia bacteria are present in some healthy throats. When body defenses are weakened in some way, by illness, old age, malnutrition, general debility or impaired immunity, the bacteria can multiply and cause serious damage. Usually, when a person's resistance is lowered, bacteria work their way into the lungs and inflame the air sacs.
The tissue of part of a lobe of the lung, an entire lobe, or even most of the lung's five lobes becomes completely filled with liquid (this is called "consolidation"). The infection quickly spreads through the bloodstream and the whole body is invaded.
The organism streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. It is one form of pneumonia for which a vaccine is available.
Symptoms: The onset of bacterial pneumonia can vary from gradual to sudden. In the most severe cases, the patient may experience shaking chills, chattering teeth, severe chest pain, and a cough that produces rust-colored or greenish mucus.
A person's temperature may rise as high as 105 degrees F. The patient sweats profusely, and breathing and pulse rate increase rapidly. Lips and nailbeds may have a bluish color due to lack of oxygen in the blood. A patient's mental state may be confused or delirious.
From: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pneumonia.html
Pneumonia bacteria are present in some healthy throats. When body defenses are weakened in some way, by illness, old age, malnutrition, general debility or impaired immunity, the bacteria can multiply and cause serious damage. Usually, when a person's resistance is lowered, bacteria work their way into the lungs and inflame the air sacs.
The tissue of part of a lobe of the lung, an entire lobe, or even most of the lung's five lobes becomes completely filled with liquid (this is called "consolidation"). The infection quickly spreads through the bloodstream and the whole body is invaded.
The organism streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. It is one form of pneumonia for which a vaccine is available.
Symptoms: The onset of bacterial pneumonia can vary from gradual to sudden. In the most severe cases, the patient may experience shaking chills, chattering teeth, severe chest pain, and a cough that produces rust-colored or greenish mucus.
A person's temperature may rise as high as 105 degrees F. The patient sweats profusely, and breathing and pulse rate increase rapidly. Lips and nailbeds may have a bluish color due to lack of oxygen in the blood. A patient's mental state may be confused or delirious.
From: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pneumonia.html
Keeping Kids Happy Despite Allergy Symptoms
Perk up kids with these simple home treatments for seasonal allergies.By Wendy C. Fries
Do seasonal allergy symptoms have your kids down for the count? The runny nose, itchy eyes, and nasal congestion can leave even the most even-tempered kid tired and out of sorts.
The next time seasonal allergic rhinitis -- the term allergists use for the symptoms we call hay fever -- has your children feeling bad, you’ve got the tools to make them feel better: These simple tips gathered by WebMD from allergists and others can help you soothe kids’ allergy symptoms in no time.
16 Tips to Help Kids Cope With Allergy Symptoms
Managing allergies starts with a medical assessment, says Rod Moser, PA, PhD, in his All Ears blog for WebMD. So before you treat symptoms you think are allergies, be sure that’s what they are with a visit to an allergist. Once you know seasonal allergies are what you’re child is dealing with, these quick tips can offer kids much-needed symptom relief.
1. Stay Inside. The best way to treat allergy symptoms is to avoid allergens to begin with, say the experts at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI). So when pollen counts soar, keep kids indoors as much as possible. Pollen is usually at its peak mid-morning, early evening, and when the wind is blowing.
2. Use Saltwater. Nasal congestion can be one of the most exhausting symptoms for children with allergies. For relief, older children might want to try nasal irrigation with a saline solution, one of the “best home remedy of all,” says Alan Goldsobel, MD, a California physician and spokesman for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. You can buy saline at the drugstore or make your own by mixing in a squirt bottle eight ounces of water to one teaspoon non-iodized salt.
3. Stay Hydrated. All that sneezing and blowing can leave a child parched. Keep a water bottle full and close to hand and encourage your children to stay well-hydrated.
4. Warm It Up. A hot shower or bath seems to offer allergy symptom relief for some, says Asriani Chiu, MD, associate professor of pediatrics and medicine at the College of Wisconsin, so encourage kids to enjoy a little tub time.
5. Keep It Cool. To keep pollen out when the weather’s hot, air condition your car and home and keep windows closed.
6. Deal With Dry Air. A little moisture in the air makes breathing easier for most, so if you suspect the air in your house is dry, you may want to turn on a humidifier. But be careful: Humidity over 40% can encourage the growth of indoor allergens like mold and dust mites.
7. Go Cold. When itchy eyes are driving your kid crazy, try a cold compress, says Chiu, which may help reduce the itch and inflammation.
8. Keep Your Hands to Yourself. And encourage kids to avoid rubbing their itchy eyes. Rubbing will only irritate them -- and could make the itchiness even worse.
9. Spice It Up. If your kids enjoy spicy foods, a piquant dish made with cayenne pepper, hot ginger, fenugreek, onions, or garlic may help thin mucus and clear nasal passages.
10. Use Top Tissues. When kids’ allergies are at their peak, tender noses can get sore pretty fast. Look for tissues with lotion or other soothing additives.
11. Rub Jelly On It. And if your child’s nose is raw and red from blowing, you can soothe their sniffer with a dab of petroleum jelly.
12. Gargle to Relieve Sore Throats . If postnasal drip leaves your child with a sore throat, gargling with warm salt water made of 1-2 tablespoons of table salt in 8 ounces of water may ease the pain.
13. Drink Warm Tea . Drinking more fluids can also help sooth tender throats. Try a weak tea with honey and lemon. Bonus: The steam from a piping hot cup may relieve sinus congestion, too.
14. Get Face Time. Warm compresses applied to the face may also help soothe a child’s sinus pressure and pain.
15. Avoid Milk. Some folks may find milk can make mucus worse, though “that’s not a proven concept,” says Goldsobel. If in doubt, it may be a good idea to steer clear of milky goodies when kids are coping with allergy symptoms.
16. Avoid Certain Foods . If your child is allergic to ragweed, they may also have an allergic sensitivity to certain foods. Symptom-provoking foods to avoid may include bananas, melons, chamomile tea, sunflower seeds, and cucumbers.
Do seasonal allergy symptoms have your kids down for the count? The runny nose, itchy eyes, and nasal congestion can leave even the most even-tempered kid tired and out of sorts.
The next time seasonal allergic rhinitis -- the term allergists use for the symptoms we call hay fever -- has your children feeling bad, you’ve got the tools to make them feel better: These simple tips gathered by WebMD from allergists and others can help you soothe kids’ allergy symptoms in no time.
16 Tips to Help Kids Cope With Allergy Symptoms
Managing allergies starts with a medical assessment, says Rod Moser, PA, PhD, in his All Ears blog for WebMD. So before you treat symptoms you think are allergies, be sure that’s what they are with a visit to an allergist. Once you know seasonal allergies are what you’re child is dealing with, these quick tips can offer kids much-needed symptom relief.
1. Stay Inside. The best way to treat allergy symptoms is to avoid allergens to begin with, say the experts at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI). So when pollen counts soar, keep kids indoors as much as possible. Pollen is usually at its peak mid-morning, early evening, and when the wind is blowing.
2. Use Saltwater. Nasal congestion can be one of the most exhausting symptoms for children with allergies. For relief, older children might want to try nasal irrigation with a saline solution, one of the “best home remedy of all,” says Alan Goldsobel, MD, a California physician and spokesman for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. You can buy saline at the drugstore or make your own by mixing in a squirt bottle eight ounces of water to one teaspoon non-iodized salt.
3. Stay Hydrated. All that sneezing and blowing can leave a child parched. Keep a water bottle full and close to hand and encourage your children to stay well-hydrated.
4. Warm It Up. A hot shower or bath seems to offer allergy symptom relief for some, says Asriani Chiu, MD, associate professor of pediatrics and medicine at the College of Wisconsin, so encourage kids to enjoy a little tub time.
5. Keep It Cool. To keep pollen out when the weather’s hot, air condition your car and home and keep windows closed.
6. Deal With Dry Air. A little moisture in the air makes breathing easier for most, so if you suspect the air in your house is dry, you may want to turn on a humidifier. But be careful: Humidity over 40% can encourage the growth of indoor allergens like mold and dust mites.
7. Go Cold. When itchy eyes are driving your kid crazy, try a cold compress, says Chiu, which may help reduce the itch and inflammation.
8. Keep Your Hands to Yourself. And encourage kids to avoid rubbing their itchy eyes. Rubbing will only irritate them -- and could make the itchiness even worse.
9. Spice It Up. If your kids enjoy spicy foods, a piquant dish made with cayenne pepper, hot ginger, fenugreek, onions, or garlic may help thin mucus and clear nasal passages.
10. Use Top Tissues. When kids’ allergies are at their peak, tender noses can get sore pretty fast. Look for tissues with lotion or other soothing additives.
11. Rub Jelly On It. And if your child’s nose is raw and red from blowing, you can soothe their sniffer with a dab of petroleum jelly.
12. Gargle to Relieve Sore Throats . If postnasal drip leaves your child with a sore throat, gargling with warm salt water made of 1-2 tablespoons of table salt in 8 ounces of water may ease the pain.
13. Drink Warm Tea . Drinking more fluids can also help sooth tender throats. Try a weak tea with honey and lemon. Bonus: The steam from a piping hot cup may relieve sinus congestion, too.
14. Get Face Time. Warm compresses applied to the face may also help soothe a child’s sinus pressure and pain.
15. Avoid Milk. Some folks may find milk can make mucus worse, though “that’s not a proven concept,” says Goldsobel. If in doubt, it may be a good idea to steer clear of milky goodies when kids are coping with allergy symptoms.
16. Avoid Certain Foods . If your child is allergic to ragweed, they may also have an allergic sensitivity to certain foods. Symptom-provoking foods to avoid may include bananas, melons, chamomile tea, sunflower seeds, and cucumbers.
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