Allergies account for millions of missed days of school and work. Studies show that students with untreated allergies have significantly lower learning scores than their classmates who don’t suffer from allergies. Those struggles also affect performance on the playing field. Untreated or poorly treated allergies can even disrupt sleep patterns. Despite perceptions, over the counter medication can make students feel worse, often too groggy or edgy to concentrate.

Inside school, children are exposed to environmental allergens that may not be present in their homes. Dust mites, mold, and animal dander from the class pet or on the clothes of classmates can cause a promising school year to veer dramatically.  Outside, ragweed pollen causes issues from mid-August, peaking in September and October, not subsiding until the first hard frost, typically in early November. Just because there aren’t visible ragweed plants around the schoolyard doesn’t mean ragweed pollen isn’t present. One ragweed plant can produce one million granules of pollen each day, which travel on the wind for hours, peaking in urban areas in the afternoon.  Ragweed pollen has even been found 10 miles out to sea.

An effective allergy treatment plan begins with identifying allergic triggers. The board certified allergists of Allergy & Asthma Specialists^SM are experts at identifying those allergic triggers and controlling the symptoms. Some patients can use antihistamines, while many patients find success using nasal steroid sprays. For patients still in need of relief, immunotherapy is an effective option. Immunotherapy is available in three forms at A&AS: injections, drops under the tongue, and tablets.

Start the year on the right foot and the path to top grades. Once we identify a child’s triggers, we encourage parents to speak with the child’s teachers and the school administrator to help them understand the child’s allergic triggers and what they can do to help. If your child takes allergy medication during the day, make a plan with the school nurse. Suggest easy fixes such as keeping windows closed on high pollen days, limiting carpeting in the classroom, fixing leaky faucets and pipes, and installing high efficiency air filters. 

The board certified allergists of Allergy & Asthma Specialists^SM are experts in diagnosing allergies and offer all three types of immunotherapy at offices located in Center City Philadelphia, Blue Bell, King of Prussia, Jenkintown, Doylestown, Lansdale, Pottstown, and Collegeville, Pennsylvania.

Schedule an appointment today online at www.AllergyandAsthmaWellness.com or by calling 1-800-86COUGH, ext 2.