Seasonal Allergies in Kids: What Parents Need To Know

Before coming to Compassion Family Chiropractic, Zack battled chronic allergies, swollen tonsils, a sore throat, and even pain on the roof of his mouth. Nights were the hardest. He tossed and turned with intense nightmares, breathed through his mouth, and rarely got a full night’s rest. His dentist suggested Zack might need his tonsils taken out.

Unfortunately, this is a common path for families dealing with severe seasonal allergies, where the focus can often stay on managing symptoms rather than addressing the underlying root cause.

What Are Seasonal Allergies?

It’s important to understand what seasonal allergies are. Also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, seasonal allergies are allergic reactions that occur during specific times of the year. The spring months are fast approaching and usually bring with them environmental factors such as pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds. Mold spores can also cause many people to suffer from predictable allergy symptoms.

Seasonal allergies have a lengthy list of telltale symptoms:

• Frequent and repetitive sneezing

• Itchy, watery eyes that persist

• A constantly runny nose, even without a cold

• Nasal congestion

• An itchy or scratchy throat

• Postnasal drip

• Fatigue and general low energy

• Poor concentration

• Ear and sinus infections

Seasonal Allergies Are Very Common Among Kids

Seasonal allergies affect approximately 24 million Americans. But children are at a higher risk. Why? For one, their immune systems are still developing. On top of that, they face higher rates of obesity, inflammatory conditions, and even neurodevelopmental challenges. As a result, symptoms that might otherwise resolve in 7–10 days with other illnesses can linger for six weeks or longer.

The longer allergens remain in the air, the more susceptible a child is to seasonal allergies.

Zack was no different. He had been dealing with allergy symptoms since he was 3 or 4 years old. His parents worried because those same symptoms only seemed to worsen as he got older. He was missing school and having a hard time focusing due to a lack of sleep and constant illness.

The Root Cause: Immune System Dysfunction

Yes, repeated exposure to pollen and other allergens is a major contributor to seasonal allergies. However, in many kids and adults, the root cause is often an overstressed and imbalanced nervous system.

This dysfunction and imbalance in the nervous system is called subluxation. The nervous system comprises your brain, spinal cord, and a vast network of sensory and motor nerves running throughout the body. Think of it as the command center for your body. Every day, the nervous system controls your movements, thoughts, and automatic responses to the world around you—things like breathing, blinking, hand-eye coordination, balance, your ability to sleep, your heartbeat, etc.

It’s all pretty amazing when you think about it.

The nervous system also controls your immune system and the immune responses your body has to common allergens like pollen and dust.

So when there is nervous system dysfunction, you’ve essentially got a kink in the garden hose that can cause all sorts of problems in your organs, tissues, and glands—including seasonal allergies.

What Can You Do as Parents To Help Your Kids With Seasonal Allergies?

• Improve indoor air quality — Consider HEPA filters in your home rather than standard filters, or use air purifiers.

• Natural symptom relief — Nasal irrigation with a saline solution using a neti pot or squeeze bottle can help tremendously by removing allergens directly from the nasal passages. It’s drug-free and highly effective.

• Reduce indoor allergen exposure — Beyond changing your filters, wash bedsheets and clothes regularly. You can also use allergen-proof bed covers and limit the amount of carpet in your home.

• Fix water leaks promptly and dehumidify moist areas of your home to reduce or prevent mold growth.

• Keep pets out of bedrooms and off furniture, which can also help reduce exposure to allergens.

• Get your child evaluated by your local pediatric neurologically focused chiropractor.

Zack’s Awesome Story of Relief

Zack’s parents brought him to our chiropractic office in Lewisville, and we evaluated him using our neurological INSIGHT scans. His parents shared that they noticed improvement in Zack’s symptoms after just two visits. He was breathing better, not complaining of pain, and he started sleeping through the night.

The nightmares have stopped, and he no longer needs his allergy meds. Today, Zack is thriving. He rests well, wakes up refreshed, and his mom finally gets to see her son happy and free from the symptoms that once disrupted their lives.

This is the power of neurologically based chiropractic care. By balancing your nervous system and ensuring it functions at its best, the body can start to heal in remarkable ways. Neurologically focused chiropractic addresses the underlying neurological dysfunctions that cause many symptoms adults and kids face every day, including seasonal allergies.

We’d Love To Support Your Family This Spring!

At Compassion Family Chiropractic in Lewisville, TX, our goal is for you to experience the hope, help, and healing that you deserve. On your first visit, you will be greeted with warm smiles and a team that is happy and ready to serve you. We aim to provide the most compassionate and thorough neurologically-focused chiropractic care possible.

We look forward to the opportunity to become your family’s home for chiropractic care in Lewisville, Flower Mound, Corinth, Coppell, Denton, and the surrounding areas.

Call us today at (469) 240-2322. To learn more about our docs, click here.