Cough - Allergic

Symptoms

Causes

Reaction to an inhaled substance (called an allergen). Most often this is a pollen.
Grass, trees, weeds and molds are the most common pollens.
Allergens can also be from cats, dogs, horses, rabbits and other animals.
Dust, chemicals, or pollutants can also cause a cough. This is from irritation of the airway, not an allergic reaction.

Prevention - How to Reduce the Pollen Your Child Breathes

Pollen is carried in the air.
Keep windows closed in the home, at least in your child's bedroom.
Keep windows closed in car. Turn the air conditioner on recirculate.
Avoid window fans or attic fans. They pull in pollen.
Try to stay indoors on windy days. Reason: The pollen count is much higher when it's dry and windy.
Avoid playing with the outdoor dog. Reason: Pollen collects in the fur.
Pollen Count. You can get your daily pollen count from www.pollen.com. Just type in your zip code.

Overview:

Pollen allergies are very common. They occur in about 15% of children.
A cough is a common symptom of allergies.
Symptoms can be controlled by giving allergy medicines. Use either short-acting (Benadryl) or long-acting (Zyrtec).
Since pollen allergies recur each year, learn to control the symptoms.
Here is some care advice that should help.

Allergy Medicines Short-Acting:

Allergy medicines are called antihistamines.
They help control all allergic symptoms.
Benadryl or Chlorpheniramine (CTM) products are helpful. No prescription is needed. They need to be given every 6 to 8 hours.
The key to control is to give allergy meds every day during pollen season.
Regular cough medicines are not helpful for allergic coughs.

Allergy Medicines Long-Acting:

Cetirizine (Zyrtec) and Loratadine (Claritin) are long-acting allergy medicines. No prescription is needed.
Advantage: Causes less sedation than older allergy meds such as Benadryl or CTM. They are long-acting and last up to 24 hours.
AGE 2- 5 years old, give 2.5 mg (2.5 ml or 1/2 teaspoon) of liquid syrup. Use once daily in the morning.
AGE 6-11 years old, give 5 mg chewable tablet once daily in morning.
AGE 12 years and older, give 10 mg tablet once daily in morning.
Downside: Doesn't control allergy symptoms as well as older allergy medicines. Also, sometimes will have breakthrough symptoms before 24 hours. If that happens, you can give a single dose of Benadryl or CTM.
Cost: Ask the pharmacist for a store brand. Reason: Costs less than the brand names.

Homemade Cough Medicine:

Goal: Decrease the irritation or tickle in the throat that causes a dry cough. These treatments can be used along with the allergy medicines.
AGE 1 year and older: Use HONEY ½ to 1 teaspoon (2-5 ml) as needed. It works as a homemade cough medicine. It can thin the secretions and loosen the cough. If you don't have any honey, you can use corn syrup.
AGE 6 years and older: Use COUGH DROPS to decrease the tickle in the throat. If you don't have any, you can use hard candy.

Coughing Fits or Spells:

Avoid Tobacco Smoke:

Wash Pollen Off Body:

Remove pollen from the hair and skin with shampoo and a shower. This is really important before bedtime.

What to Expect:

Coughing from an allergic substance that can be avoided should go away in hours. Examples are a reaction to pets, a barn, raking leaves or air pollution.
Coughing during pollen season can last 4-8 weeks. It may return whenever you don't give the allergy medicine. It can flare-up whenever the pollen count goes high.

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