How to know if your child is suffering from allergies or has a cold

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – As the spring season arrives, many parents are noticing their children sneezing, coughing, or rubbing their eyes and wondering if it’s just a cold or something more. According to Dr. Adil Khan, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Ochsner LSU Health, these could be signs of seasonal allergies triggered by the current spike in tree pollen.

“There are three different types of pollen mainly—tree pollen, grass pollen, and weed pollen,” Dr. Khan explains. “Each of them have different times of the year that they peak, but right now, it’s tree pollen season. That green and yellow dust you see on the ground and on your car. That’s all tree pollen, and it’s what triggers allergies and causes kids to have symptoms.”

But how can you tell the difference between allergies and the common cold? Dr. Khan says it comes down to how your child is feeling overall.

“From a cold standpoint, those kids are typically going to be down for a day or two,” he says. “They will be having fever, they might complain of some earache, and they might not be eating until they’re full.”

So, if your child has a fever or isn’t eating well, something more serious could be going on, and it’s time to call your pediatrician. But if you suspect allergies, Dr. Khan recommends seeing an allergy specialist.

“When they come, we want to know what they’re allergic to in their environment so we can educate them about preventative measures,” he says. “It opens up the option of what we call allergy shots. That’s kind of the long-term cure for these allergies.”

In the short term, over-the-counter medications can help relieve symptoms. Dr. Khan suggests using Benadryl before bed and Zyrtec during the day. He also recommends bathing your kids after they spend time outdoors to wash away any lingering pollen and reduce discomfort.

Despite the allergy season being in full swing, Dr. Khan encourages parents to let their kids continue enjoying outdoor play.

“We never limit the kids from playing outside,” he says. “They’re kids, they’re supposed to play. There’s a hygiene hypothesis that says the reason allergies have gone up is because kids don’t play outside anymore. They stay indoors, and their bodies don’t learn how to respond.”

With a solid plan and proper care, Dr. Khan says kids can still embrace the joys of Spring, without all the sniffles.