EAR, NOSE & THROAT UPDATE
AND YOU THOUGHT ALLERGY SEASON IS OVER
By Jeffrey Raval, MD, FACS
The kids are back in school, exposed to a whole new set of germs and contagions. They may start coming home with runny noses. Don’t assume they’ve caught a cold. It could be allergies. Yes, even in the fall.
Allergies are typically thought of as a springtime occurrence. But that’s not always the case, particularly with the inordinately wet Colorado we’ve experience this past summer.
Ragweed is an especially big cause of allergies each fall. That and mold. And many of Colorado’s native plants only pollinate in the fall months including Russian Thistle, Sagebrush and Cedar Elm.
So if your child has a runny nose, don’t presume it’s a cold. Allergies do cause runny noses, but the drainage tends to be clear. With a cold, the drainage can turn yellowish to greenish. Also, colds can be accompanied by symptoms of fevers, chills, and muscle aches. And kids and adults suffering with a cold generally look just plain miserable.
Plus, if the cold symptoms last for 14 days, it’s likely your little one (or big one) is actually experiencing allergies—even if they have never indicated allergies previously. We treat a lot of people who say they’ve never experienced allergies in their lifetimes until this year. Any person at any age can develop allergies.
If you do have allergies to foliage and trees, they won’t get better until the first frost of the season. But there are proactive measures you can take.
Allergies are best treated with a nasal steroid spray followed by an antihistamine. Some antihistamines contain decongestants, necessary when the congestion is impeding breathing. Colds, on the other hand, will respond to decongestants and rest. And colds are able to be passed from one schoolmate to another or to a member of the family. Allergies are not contagious.
Besides nasal spray and antihistamines, you can make some behavioral changes to minimize allergies. Limit your outdoor time. Pollen is the highest from early morning to early afternoon. Keep your windows closed and your air purifier or air conditioner on rather than flinging the windows open to invite the pollen inside. And rest assured that in Colorado winter’s arrival will make a difference for allergy sufferers.
If you have questions about allergies, you are welcome to contact our office.
Jeffrey Raval, MD, FACS is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School and did his residency and internship at the Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University Barnes Jewish Hospital. He completed his fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology, is double board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. Reach Dr. Raval at Raval Facial Aesthetics & ENT, PC at 303.381.FACE (3223).