As we gear up for the start of a new school year, we all know what that means—more germs, seasonal allergies, and colds. The excitement of school starting often comes hand-in-hand with the increase in illnesses, especially among our little ones. Last winter, I noticed a rise in illnesses, particularly among kids. When other parents mention that their child is home sick with the flu, a cold, a stomach bug, or strep, I start to ask myself, why?
Now, I’m not saying that kids can’t catch these types of illnesses, but when I hear or see my own children coming home repeatedly with an “illness,” I start to investigate the “why.”
Understanding Seasonal Illnesses and Seasonal Allergies
Last winter, we didn’t experience the usual cold snaps and freezes that typically settle pollen to the ground. Instead, pollen stayed in the air longer, contributing to what seemed like a never-ending allergy season. I noticed that many of the “illnesses” people were dealing with showed symptoms similar to seasonal allergies. This was true for both my husband and kids, but it was especially evident in my husband, who doesn’t boost his immune system daily like my kids and I do.
Case Study: Misdiagnosed Pneumonia or Severe Seasonal Allergies?
My husband’s “illness” started around Thanksgiving, and it was centered in his lungs, leading him to believe he had pneumonia. I watched as he went through the motions of visiting the doctor and being prescribed antibiotics. When those antibiotics didn’t work, I began to wonder why.
My gut instinct told me it wasn’t pneumonia, but I didn’t press the issue. I watched as he returned to the doctor for another round of antibiotics. The doctors even did a CT scan, which showed something in his lungs, so they were confident that the antibiotics would work this time. But they didn’t.
Allergies vs. Illness: Recognizing the Symptoms
At this point, I stepped in and pointed out that since the antibiotics weren’t working, it likely wasn’t a bacterial infection. I suggested that maybe he was dealing with severe seasonal allergies. He took my advice, started taking antihistamines, and wouldn’t you know it, he began to improve! This made sense since we had essentially been in allergy season since the fall. Once he started taking antihistamines regularly, his symptoms disappeared. There was a week when he stopped taking them and began to feel ill again, thinking it was pneumonia returning. But once he resumed the antihistamines, his symptoms cleared up.
Keeping Kids Healthy: A Preventative Approach
Seeing how effective the antihistamines were for my husband, I decided to keep my kids on them since the fall. For the most part, my children have stayed healthy. We’ve had a bug or two come through our house, but they only lasted about two days, while my kids’ classmates were out for 1-2 weeks at a time. So I’ll let you be the judge, but what I learned from last winter is to not just assume my child has an illness, but first consider whether they might be having an allergic reaction to something in the air, like seasonal allergies.
As we enter the new school year, it’s more important than ever to understand the difference between cold, flu, and allergy symptoms. With the right approach and preventive measures, you can keep your family healthier and happier throughout the year. Stay informed, and always consider seasonal allergies as a potential cause of those lingering symptoms. Let’s help our kids have a healthy and successful school year!