Are these pollens making your little one sick? (Pollen) Let's talk about this!

Does your little one sneeze all the time? Does his eyes get red, does his nose run like water, and does he sometimes have trouble breathing? If these things happen all the time, the reason may be something simpler than you think, but it's a little annoying. We call these " triggers ." That is, certain things can make your child's asthma or allergies worse. One of the most common triggers that affects many people is pollen .

What is pollen? It's very simple!

Simply put, pollen is a very fine, powdery substance that some plants and flowers produce during their reproductive process, that is, when they produce new plants. Imagine, when this pollen travels from flower to flower and gets mixed together, new fruits and seeds are formed. So, this is something very important for the plant world.

During the spring, summer, and sometimes even fall, there is a lot of pollen in the environment. The wind carries these tiny pollen grains from one place to another. To be precise, the wind carries these pollen grains and gives them to other trees, to " pollinate " them, that is, to fertilize them.

Now here's the problem. There are proteins inside these pollen grains. Those proteins, when we inhale them, that is, breathe them in, cause allergic reactions in some of our bodies. That's when the aforementioned sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and sometimes skin rashes appear. The pollen that most people are allergic to comes from grasses, some large trees (not like mangoes and kohomba, but some exotic trees can also come from them), and some plants that we call weeds.

Just think, because our little ones' immune systems , the system that protects them from diseases, are not yet fully developed, they may be a little more sensitive to these types of pollen. That's why the effects of these pollens on children are sometimes more severe than on adults.

How can I help my child reduce the problems caused by this pollen?

Okay, so now let's see how we can protect our little ones from this annoying pest called pollen as much as possible. There's nothing to worry about, if you follow these simple steps, you can control this situation to a large extent.

Always be aware of the daily pollen count!

This is very important. Along with the weather forecast for your area, sometimes you will also be given information about the daily " pollen level". This is very common in some countries. This is also being talked about in Sri Lanka now. You can also find such information on the Internet.

• On days when the pollen count is high, it's best to limit your child's outdoor time as much as possible, especially in the morning (between 5 and 10 a.m.), when pollen is most abundant in the air.
• If you absolutely have to go out, give your child's allergy medicine , as prescribed by the doctor, before going out. This should definitely be done under medical advice.
• If your child likes to play outside, choose a time of day when pollen levels are lower, such as after a good sunset, after midday, or after an afternoon rain. This is because after rain, most of the pollen in the air is washed away to the ground.
• The most important thing is that after your child comes back from playing outside or doing something else, be sure to bathe them and change all their clothes. This will remove any pollen that may be on their body, hair, and clothes. Otherwise, that pollen can come inside the house and cause further problems.

You also need to take some care of your home's doors and windows.

During high pollen seasons, meaning when flowers are blooming and windy, it's best to keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.

• Keep windows closed, especially in the morning and evening, as pollen levels are highest during those times.
• If the house is hot, you can use an air conditioner . But you need to clean its filter regularly. Otherwise, dust and pollen can accumulate in it and circulate back inside the house.
• If you are using an air purifier to clean the air inside your home, make sure it has a HEPA filter . This is a special type of filter that can capture even very fine pollen particles. This can help reduce the amount of pollen in the air inside your home.

Don't forget these things when driving.

You also need to be a little careful when driving during high pollen times.

• Close the windows of your car and turn on the AC. This will greatly reduce the amount of pollen outside entering the car.
• If you use the "recirculate" mode on your car's AC, it recirculates the air inside the car, and draws in less fresh air from outside.

Protect your child when working outdoors.

Sometimes children have to do small chores in the garden too.

• If your child is doing chores like mowing the lawn or raking the garden, don't let them be exposed to this pollen for too long. Because when they do these kinds of chores, a lot of the pollen on the ground gets re-introduced into the air.
• If you absolutely have to do this, or if your child is playing outside in areas with high pollen counts (for example, under flowering trees, in a grassy field), a good air filter mask, i.e. a face mask, is a must.Wearing a mask can greatly reduce pollen inhalation. However, it should be comfortable for the child, fit snugly, and not make breathing difficult. A mask like an N95 is more suitable for this than a regular surgical mask , but choose one that is comfortable for the child.

The way you dry your clothes is also very important!

This may be something you haven't even thought about.

• After washing your clothes, dry them indoors if possible, instead of hanging them outside on a clothesline. Or use a clothes dryer .
• Do you know why? If you dry your clothes outside, pollen in the wind can settle on freshly washed, scented clothes. Then, when you put those clothes back on, you can experience those allergy symptoms again.

How do I find out exactly what my child's "triggers" are?

In fact, if a child has asthma or allergies , there may be more than one thing that makes those symptoms worse or worse. We call these 'triggers' . Pollen is just one such major trigger.

In addition, many things can be triggers in this way, such as indoor dust mites , pet dander, certain foods (such as milk, eggs, peanuts), smoke ( cigarette smoke , wood stove smoke), some perfumes, and paints.

The most important thing is that your doctor can help you find out exactly what your child's triggers are. This may involve doing some tests , such as a skin prick test or blood test. That's why it's important to get medical advice and talk to your doctor about this. Then you can know exactly what to avoid.

The most important things to keep in mind (Take-Home Message)

So, simply put, pollen is something that can aggravate conditions like allergies and asthma in our little ones, a bit annoying, but something we can control.

• Don't worry. If you follow the simple steps we've discussed, you can greatly reduce the impact of pollen on your child.
• Awareness is the first step. Just knowing about pollen levels and how to protect yourself can make a big difference.
• Follow your doctor's instructions. Give your child the medicine on time and in the correct dosage. Stay in touch with your doctor regularly.
• Always pay attention to your child's symptoms.See when the symptoms increase and what actions reduce them. This information is also very important for the doctor.

Remember, we are doing all this for the well-being of our children. It is our responsibility to create an environment where they can play and learn happily, healthily.

` pollen, allergy, asthma, triggers, children's health, Sri Lanka