“Is allergy medication safe for 9 years old?”

Thank you for your very thoughtful question. Childhood allergies are prevalent and are a significant problem for children to cope with. Management of seasonal allergies may require medication. It is preferable to first determine that what is presumptively being treated is indeed, a seasonal allergy. Initially, a determination should be undertaken by your family doctor, pediatrician, or by consultation with your child's primary care allergist to differentiate between seasonal allergies, house dust allergy, sensitization to home cleaning agents, like the use of perfumed fresheners, or if nasal irritation and discharge is associated without allergen related agents ie. nasal blood vessel irritation (known as vasomotor rhinitis) might be considered as distinct from seasonal allergies. Finally, maxillary sinusitis might be cause for similar symptoms to that of seasonal allergies. These conditions often have associated overlapping symptoms that can be differentiated into their respective categories by obtaining a detailed clinical history. If this history suggests seasonality, periodicity, known, or suspected agents (allergens) that correlate with onset of symptoms, their timing and duration of symptoms which might include headache, fever, post nasal discharge, halitosis (bad breath), tender upper jaw teeth and even sore throat or cough, then a careful physical examination will permit findings obtained by your doctor's detailed history of events, that can point to a diagnosis of seasonal allergies. Skin testing and certain blood tests can be undertaken by a family doctor, pediatrician or allergist to obtain further evidence of a specific causative allergen. Once a reasonable risk assessment has been established for treating a seasonal allergy, then a discussion of options for its management can be undertaken. This is often a combined approach of avoiding exposure to the allergen by staying in doors on windy days, not riding bikes excessively during the pollen season, or perhaps not at all during the height of the pollen season, turning on the air conditioner, ensuring the air ducts have been cleaned are amongst other strategies to lower the exposure to allergens. With anticipation of spring, or fall seasons and before symptoms commence, then with advice from your doctor, it is common practice to commence medication known as anti-histamines to blunt the intensity of nasal and lung related symptoms related to allergen exposure. Other medications can be used in conjunction with anti-histamines for treatment of severe seasonal allergies. Medications can be used daily for extended periods and have been shown to have no significant adverse effects, but this does require your doctor to guide wise medication use. Everyone is a unique individual, each with our own pharmaco-genome, therefore, always obtain management directives and opinions from your doctor before proceeding with any medications whether for your child or yourself. A note of caution- the use of extended, or frequent intermittent use of Benadryl has been reported to interfere with daily activities, including learning acquisition and retention of educational factors. The newer second generation anti-histamine agents have beneficial effects on blunting seasonal allergies without side effects as stated above. Treating seasonal allergies is a wide spread need for many children and has proven value in allowing children to pursue normal behaviors during times of the year when being outdoors is generally important for their happiness and ongoing healthy development. Thank you for your question. GA Browne MD.

Over the counter yes