Indian Oasis News

The approach to managing a child's allergies is similar to that of an adult, with some important differences regarding medication choices and dosing. In general, there are three ways to treat a child's allergies:

• Avoidance of the allergic triggers
• Use of medications
• Allergy shots (immunotherapy)

Avoidance of Allergic Triggers
Avoidance of the causes of a child's allergy symptoms can often be the best way to prevent symptoms. There is essentially no cost, no medication side effects, and it is essentially a curative approach to the child's allergic problem. Examples of at least partially avoidable allergens include pet dander and dust mites. However, avoidance of allergens is often difficult and not always possible. For example, plant pollens and mold spores are part of the outside air, and short of keeping a child indoors all the time, it is impossible to avoid exposure to these allergens. Once allergy testing reveals the presence of allergic antibodies to various triggers, an allergist may recommend avoidance of these triggers.

Use of Medications

When avoidance measures fail or are not possible, many children will require medications to treat their allergy symptoms. The choice of medication depends on numerous questions to be answered by the parent or child's physician:

• How severe are the child's allergies?
• What are the child's allergy symptoms?
• What medication can the family get (over the counter prescription)?
• What medication will the child take?
• Does he/she need medication daily or intermittently?
• What side effects might the child experience from the medication(s)?

Allergy Shots
Allergy shots, or immunotherapy, treats allergies by reducing the child’s sensitivity to allergens. Although immunotherapy doesn’t work for everybody and may be only partially effective in some people, it does offer some severe allergy sufferers the chance to eventually reduce or stop using “rescue” medication.

This therapy might work for your child if he/she suffers from severe allergies and cannot avoid the specific things he/she is allergic to. It is most successful when used to treat:

• Those with allergic rhinitis
• Those with asthma
• If it begins early in life or soon after the allergy develops for the first time

Work with your child's doctor to discover what will work best for your family and allow your child an active and joyful life.

Standardized tests are extremely important in your child’s education. Schools use information gained from these tests to guide instruction, and it can be a helpful indicator when grouping students in classes. Educators stress the importance of these tests to students and parents, as school labels are based upon their outcomes.

Every parent wants his/her child to succeed. As testing season rolls around, there are many things you can do as a parent to help your child be successful on his/her assessments.

• Avoid putting any undue stress on your child. Testing windows are only a few weeks out of the school year. If possible, avoid any major family changes during this time.
• Make every effort to have your child at school and on time during testing.
• Please do not send a sick child to school simply for the sake of the test, and do not schedule voluntary doctor or dental appointments during testing weeks. Students always do better on major tests the first time they are given, rather than in a make-up environment.
• Ensure your child gets plenty of rest the night before the test. Enough said.
• Give your child a quality, low-sugar breakfast on testing days. Even if he/she doesn’t typically eat breakfast, encourage him/her to do so. A sugar-rich breakfast will cause your child’s energy to peak quickly and then crash, leaving him/her tired too soon.

Testing season is just a short blip of the school year, but the results can affect your child for all of the next school year and beyond. Encourage your child to do his/her best and to take his/her time on the tests. Check your child’s backpack or the school website for more information and exact testing dates. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.