Pediatrics, Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Consultant, Dr. Saleh bin Zaid Al-Mohsen indicated that the possibility to develop allergies, especially those affecting the respiratory system, increases when the patient is exposed to external influences such as pollen grains and dust. Such influences become common in spring, autumn and notably summer; therefore, asthmatics and allergy patients are advised to stay away from areas where there are trees and flowers during the pollen season as well as grasses when harvested.
Dr. Al-Mohsen demonstrated that it is hard to avoid allergy in particular; due to the presence of the genetic factor, which plays a significant role in increasing the chance of infection with the disease. Also, it is hard to avoid the factors leading to respiratory irritation amid children at risk of asthma, like pollen seeds, dust and grass.
Among the tips that Dr. Al-Mohsen mentioned is the necessity to avoid allergens and respiratory irritants such as smoking, pungent odour of detergents and grass during the harvest season or plants during the pollen season as soon as possible. Also, it is important to frequently wash linens, blankets and curtains; in order to avoid bed bugs. It was not recommended to have furry pets like cats, dogs and some birds inside the house, where there are asthmatic or allergic children.
In addition, Dr. Al-Mohsen advised to regularly perform exercises to strengthen the function of lungs. When children have asthma, they should not be forbidden from exercising, yet it is recommended to control asthma symptoms by using Ventolin before working out. Furthermore, he stressed the need for good nutrition; as it has been proven by several studies that asthma rates remarkably increase among children who eat fast food.
This came while hosting of Dr. Saleh bin Zaid Al-Mohsen, the Pediatrics, Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Consultant, at the Media and Health Awareness National Center of the Ministry of Health (MOH). The interview was meant for answering the callers' questions about asthma, allergy, epistaxis (nosebleed) and other respiratory diseases that affect children in the summer via the Center's toll free number: 8002494444 and the MOH Twitter account: @saudimoh.
Speaking about ways to avoid people-irritating allergic rhinitis, Dr. Al-Mohsen said that it is hard to avoid it since most of the factors that lead to the irritation of the membrane lining of the nose like pollen grains, grass and trees can travel up to tens of kilometers in air making it hard to avoid the infection. However, if it was proven that allergic rhinitis is caused by bed bugs, it is possible to avoid it by using protective covers, washing linens and curtains regularly and keeping furry dolls and carpets out of the bedroom.
Concerning the causes of epistaxis among children and whether it increases in the summer with the high temperature, Dr. Al-Mohsen indicated that it is caused by various factors such as platelets shortage or hereditary problems in blood clotting disorders. Yet, the major cause of epistaxis among children remains unknown. It was recommended to avoid bad habits such as rubbing the nose or direct exposure to the sun.
Furthermore, Dr. Saleh Al-Mohsen indicated that itchiness of the eye and its discharge may be caused by a bacterial or viral infection. If those symptoms were chronic especially in autumn and spring, they might be caused by an allergy in the eye in case it was accompanied by other symptoms of nasal, respiratory or palate allergy.
Dr. Al-Mohsen demonstrated that in order to enhance children immunity, it is necessary to stick to healthy nutrition and regular exercising, and follow up the immunization schedule to be protected against contagious diseases -Allah willing. In addition, he recommended avoiding the excessive use of antibiotics without a prescription because it strengthens the bacterial resistance.