The End of Summer "Allergy" Blues

As fall begins and the new school year starts, many children may complain that they are allergic to school. While I certainly had my share of allergic attacks because of homework, there is a chance that your child is not far off the mark. If going to school makes your child feel ill, do not simply discount the symptoms as the back-to-school blues. Each new classroom (or new school if you moved over the summer) is a new environment with distinct allergens and irritants. These unfamiliar allergens can cause new symptoms – or familiar ones – such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, eye irritation, and headaches. These symptoms lead to irritability and exhaustion. Your child will not be able to concentrate because of their allergy symptoms.

A newly constructed school is a point of pride in any community, but new construction is a source for multiple allergy triggers. These irritants include dirt, dust, and chemicals. Chemicals and odors from the installation of new carpeting and flooring are harmful. Other seemingly innocuous odors from air fresheners, colognes, perfumes, and other artificial scents can also cause allergy symptoms. Other allergens commonly found at schools include: chalk powder, dust mites, and animal dander from classroom pets.

You do your best to make your home clean and allergen-free, but you have very little control over the school environment. What can you do? First, you have to think and act like a detective. Ask your child questions and pay attention to the details of the answers. Ask your child about classroom pets. Even cute hamsters and gerbils can cause allergy symptoms. Carefully, evaluate what is causing your child's symptoms. Secondly, make a plan. You must anticipate the presence of new allergens, and you have to talk with your child about ways to avoid those allergens.

What steps can parents and children take to avoid school allergy symptoms? If you suspect your child is allergic to something at school, take a tour of the school and class room. The offending allergen might be easier to spot in person. If you have not done so already, schedule a visit with an allergist or immunologist. These doctors will advise you on appropriate medications, immunotherapy, and prevention techniques. If your child comes home from school with nasal congestion, make sure their symptoms are alleviated before bedtime. A stuffy nose keeps your child from sleeping properly. Lack of sleep can severely hinder their performance in school. When playing outside at school, children must avoid fields which can harbor large amounts of weeds and pollen. During the fall ragweed season, this is critical. Talk to teachers about what the teachers can do to help. Communicating your concerns and ideas while being supportive of a more allergy-free classroom will help your child and their classmates.

To avoid school allergens, teachers can do a variety of things. Make sure that dust does not accumulate in the classroom. Keep classroom windows closed to keep pollen from coming inside. If you use a chalkboard, allergic children should not sit in the front row, because chalk dust may trigger allergies. If you have a chemically sensitive child in the class, choose craft projects that do not use known irritants. If your class has a nap time, any pillows provided should have allergy-proof dust mite encasings. Cleaning with harsh chemical solutions should be done after hours or at night when no children are present. Depending on your school’s financial situation, speak to your school administrator about purchasing a classroom air purifier. Air purifiers clean the air and help everyone breathe better.

Together, school administrators and parents can do a great deal to reduce the effect of allergens at school. Hopefully, the only thing that will cause an allergic reaction is that backpack full of homework.