Feel like you’re spending all your time battling the three Ss of spring? That’s the sniffles, sneezes and seriously itchy nose – not to mention the weepy eyes and maybe even a little scratchy throat just for good measure.
Allergic rhinitis is uncomfortable and can be downright difficult for the 20% to 30% of South Africans* who are affected by it, many of whom are children. As every parent knows, putting up with ongoing physical discomfort is one thing – watching your little one struggle to sleep, concentrate at school, and enjoy their playtime is another.
Not only is allergic rhinitis hard for kids to handle, but it can also quickly spiral out of control, leading to complications such as sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis media, or ear infections. Children with other allergic conditions, such as eczema, asthma, and food allergies, are also more likely to suffer from allergic rhinitis, which can flare up during the warmer months in those with pollen allergies.
Here in beautiful, biodiverse South Africa, pollen is part of life, particularly during the long spring and summer seasons. Fortunately, CompCare’s very own Dr Simangele Nkosi, a general practitioner and trustee of CompCare, has some practical tips for getting proactive about protecting your family from seasonal allergens.
8 simple steps for proactive pollen protection
- Wash hands often.
- To discourage touching faces and rubbing eyes, which can worsen allergy symptoms, keep little hands busy with yo-yos, fidget toys, and puzzles.
- To minimise pollen entering indoor spaces, keep the windows and doors that lead outside closed at home and also in the car.
- Change the filters in your vacuum cleaner and air conditioning units and consider an air purifier to help trap pollens and other particles in the air at home.
- Wear a hat and sunglasses when outdoors to protect against pollen, and change clothes when you go inside. This can be a tricky one for parents to manage, but having a designated set of ‘outside play clothes’ kept by the door can help, even if only when the pollen count is high.
- Other factors, such as pet dander and dust mites can also cause allergic rhinitis, so put covers on pillows, mattresses, and bed bases to protect against dust mites.
- Keep pets off the furniture and close doors to bedrooms.
- For adolescents and adults, nasal irrigation – or rinsing your sinuses with saline solution – is a safe and effective way to wash away allergens in the nasal passage and can relieve certain symptoms.
“While practical steps and, where necessary, medical treatment are proven to be most effective when managing allergic rhinitis, a healthy diet rich in nutrients can provide an additional layer of support during allergy season,” says Dr Nkosi.
- Veg out on Vitamin C. Peppers and broccoli are high in Vitamin C, while the classic choice of citrus fruits also offer a healthy dose, providing powerful immune support with possible antihistamine properties.
- Brome-whaaat? Bromelain – this is an enzyme found in pineapple which is being studied for its possible benefit to allergy sufferers, including the thinning of mucous in the sinuses and chest.
- Turn up the turmeric. The golden root turmeric has known anti-inflammatory properties that may assist with allergic rhinitis.
- Omega 3 does it again. The fatty acids’ nutritional properties in fish like salmon may also help regulate inflammation and reduce allergy symptoms.
Allergic rhinitis can be controlled with active management, but if symptoms persist or worsen, the patient should seek professional healthcare treatment to avoid developing serious illness.
*Sources:
South African Journal of Science – https://bit.ly/3z2ZXOx