Back-to-school Allergies & Asthma
Heading back to school should include excitement about meeting new teachers, seeing old friends, and learning more about the world around us. Unfortunately, heading into the classroom can also involve a drastic increase in coughing, sniffling, and sneezing.
If you look around an average classroom, you can probably find allergic triggers pretty easily—and you’re not even a board-certified allergist!
They might include:
- Dust on top of old shelves or equipment or within unfiltered, circulated air
- Mold from indoor plants or musty bathrooms and basements
- Pet dander from classroom animals or even your friend Lucy’s sweater (pet dander can travel easily from home to school on our skin, hair, and clothing)
- Food brought into the classroom
- Cockroaches and mice
- Open windows allowing pollen or car exhaust to travel indoors
These allergens negatively affect the noses, lungs, throats and ears of students. In fact, more than two million school days are lost every year to allergies, making it the most common chronic condition among students. Of allergic disease, nearly 40% are allergic rhinitis, 20% asthma, and 8% food allergies. Not only do allergies make it difficult to breathe but also to concentrate and get adequate sleep.
A board-certified allergist can help you and your child identify classroom allergies and minimize their symptoms. Make this school year a healthy one full of fun and growth.
Schedule an appointment today!
