For some, their allergies may be clear as day- sniffling, running nose and sneezing all day long. But for others, you may not even notice your allergies bothering you much. However, it is important to address them to have a comfortable life.
For children especially it can be hard to diagnose what may be causing issues that are upsetting them. There are some seasonal allergy symptoms that can fly under the radar but if you pay attention, you can develop a clear picture of the ailment. Red eyes and runny noses aside, there are plenty of other ways that allergies can make us miserable. Especially in children, who already have a hard time translating physical symptoms into words, some of these symptoms are easily overlooked.
1.Headaches
Headaches in combination with nasal symptoms are a typical seasonal allergy complaint. However, many people do not realize that isolated headaches (without associated sneezing and runny nose) can also be brought on by high airborne allergen levels. Be sure to look out for a frontal (forehead) headache.
- Itchy Ears
Another symptom you may notice but may not think much about are itchy ear. There may be inflammation of the ear canal, similar to eczema. Many of these people actually experience this ear itching seasonally, and their symptoms often improve with antihistamines or prescription ear drops. If you notice your little one complaining of an itch in their ear that they just can’t scratch- it may be allergies.
3.Scratchy Throat
Scratchy throat is a symptom for so many illnesses but this one should show up right along with some other symptoms. If you have a stuffy nose, you are forced to sleep with your mouth open. This can cause evaporation of moisture from the mucosal tissues in your mouth and throat. This causes you to feel parched during the night, and to wake up with a sore throat. More often than not, your sore throat will improve as the day goes on. But be wary because even though it is not persistent, this can actually be your, or your child’s allergies acting up.
- Skin Rashes
Most people assume that allergic skin rashes are due to food allergies or contact with a chemical/metal allergen. However, it is common for eczema to flare up during airborne allergy season. Some can experience this as dry elbows. Others may have their face break out into dry or scaly patches around their mouth, nose or eyes. This can be solved easily by throwing on a moisturizer. Keep this symptom in mind when you are trying to diagnose if you may or may not have seasonal allergies.
- Gastrointestinal Issues
Many foods cross-react with pollen particles, like apples and birch pollen, wheat and grass pollen, watermelon and ragweed pollen. Most people with environmental allergies do not need to limit their diets due to this cross-reactivity. However some patients find that their gastrointestinal systems are more sensitive to these cross-reactive foods during the allergy season. If you or your little one is complaining of a sore tummy along with other common allergy symptoms, it may be time to look into an antihistamine.
- Sleep Issues
Many adults complain of sleep issues when the allergy season arises. A stuffy nose can certainly keep one up all night. However, even without a stuffy nose insomnia can arise in those suffering from allergies. Sleep is essential for humans to function correctly, even losing a few hours of sleep can make you feel groggy. Sleep issues should always be taken seriously and addressed. Even if it is just as easy as getting your allergies under control- your sleep should be important.
- Behavioral Issues
Poorly controlled allergies result in poor-quality sleep. As adults, not getting a good night’s rest makes us grumpy and tired during the day. However, children with poor sleep are not so easy to identify. Rather than falling asleep at their school desks issues with normally happy, cooperative children becoming moody, hyperactive and difficult to redirect. Solving the sleep issues can help with daytime behavior. While you may believe that the behavior issues are cause by food, mental or other issues you may be correct. However, addressing environmental triggers that impede restful sleep often handle the issue
- Loss of Focus
Another symptom that may be hard to diagnose a cause is a loss of focus. As an adult who has suffered from allergies you have felt this ‘foggy’ you get in. Perhaps it’s from the congestion or headache or a mix of it all- but this loss of focus is very common in allergy sufferers. In children this is hard to see because children already have short attention spans. But if they seem to be staring off a bit more or not keep attention very well- it may be allergies.
This upcoming allergy season, be on the lookout for these symptoms. Even though you may not be sniffling, sneezing or have a runny nose, you may still be suffering from allergies. All of these small symptoms can all add up and lead to larger allergy problems. Even though these symptoms may fly under the radar, you should pay attention to them. Fixing your allergy issue could fix a lot of the other issues you may be suffering from.