YORK, Pa. — Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring. For some, that unfortunately means early allergies, too.
As February comes to a close, it won't be long before spring brings seasonal allergies back in full force.
Dr. Vinitha Moopen with WellSpan Health has some tips on how to weather the storm--and we don't mean spring showers.
Early allergy symptoms can raise questions about whether someone is actually just starting spring allergies or suffering from one of winter's illnesses. Dr. Moopen says it's entirely possible for those symptoms to be caused by allergies--indoor or outdoor--even this early in the year.
It's also possible for kids who are not even a year old to start exhibiting showing their allergies.
"Sometimes you see kids with eczema at 6 months or 5 months, sometimes you see kids with food allergies just as young, because that's when we're introducing foods as well," Dr. Moopen said. "So there's really no set age."
The physician reminds parents that nearly anything can be an allergy trigger: indoors, think dust mites, mold, cigarette smoke, foods, medications and pets; outdoors, consider trees, plants and pollen.
"Anything, really, that's growing outside can be an allergen," Dr. Moopen said.
She recommends getting kids tested for allergies when their symptoms persist or parents can't seem to find the root cause of an illness.
"Since it's relatively easy, you know, the skin testing is not painful, but we can test so many at one time, it's always good--especially in this area, where allergies are so high--to get that answer so that we can help them by taking that out of their environment if we possibly can," Dr. Moopen said.
Kids can be tested for allergies before they are even a year old, especially in severe cases, but the test will most likely be repeated when they are older.
But there is hope for children who suffer from allergies--Dr. Moopen says it's possible that they will grow out of them.
When allergies begin affected kids' daily life, such as wheezing that prevents them from running around on the playground or an itchy rash that they can't stop scratching, the physician recommends that it's time to see a professional.
Dr. Moopen says concerned parents can always talk to their doctors, nurses and pediatricians about any worries they may have for their child. If your kid needs to be seen by a doctor, click here to make an appointment with WellSpan.