Your sugary sweet baby is sniffling and sneezing and sporting a sour disposition. He’s having trouble eating and sleeping, so your whole brood is beginning to behave like a zombie mob. Those itchy, watery eyes, rashes and vomiting may not be symptoms of a virus, but an allergic reaction. Depending on the trigger(s), symptoms can occur seasonally or year round. Triggers (allergens) are everywhere: plants, molds, pets, foods, medications and more.

Common Allergy Sypmtoms may include:

• thin, clear mucus (two weeks duration)

• no fever

• itching

• repetitive sneezing

• rash, hives, welts

• stomach pain with vomiting

• diarrhea

• breathing difficulty

• swelling in mouth and/or throat

Talk with your pediatrician as soon as possible if you think your wee one is being bugged by allergies. Also, check out Arkansas Children Hospital’s website for online pediatric health information.

Local pharmacist and mom, Aubrey Harton of Cornerstone Pharmacy at Chenal shares her advice for allergy sufferers. Keep these tips in mind as your little ones grow.

Aubrey Harton: Although we all enjoy cooler weather in central Arkansas during the fall, allergies are not something we look forward to! I always have a few suggestions for my patients who suffer with allergies. I talk to them about what over the counter medications to take and how they may react with their prescription medication.

Seasonal allergies are very common and occur when a person’s immune system overreacts to an irritant or an allergen such as dust or pollen. Insects stings as well as certain foods such a peanuts, and medications like antibiotics may also cause severe allergic reactions in some people. Some familiar symptoms of allergic reactions are runny nose, red eyes, itchiness, hives, or shortness of breath.

How can you find out if you have allergies? Typical tests involve placing possible allergens on the skin and watching for a reaction. If your doctor does not perform these tests, he or she may send you to an allergy specialist to determine if you have allergies.

Once you or your little one has been diagnosed, there are many over-the-counter (OTC) medications available to treat allergy symptoms. Some could interfere with prescription medications, so patients should always talk to their pharmacist before taking any OTC medication. You should also tell the pharmacist if you or your child have any other type of medical condition or allergies to medicines. (And moms, don’t forget to mention if you could be pregnant.)

Anti-histamines like Benadryl or diphenhydramine are fast-acting but may have side effects including dry mouth, drowsiness or blurred vision. To treat an allergic reaction, I would recommend liquid Benedryl first. Once-daily antihistamines such as Claritin, Zyrtec or Allegra provide all-day relief but are not as fast-acting or sedating as diphenhydramine.

I only recommend pseudoephedrine if you have nasal congestion. All products containing this drug are now available behind the pharmacy counter, and a pharmacist must approve your purchase.

Allergy symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing and asthma attacks are commonly managed with prescription-inhaled medication. Patients with life-threatening allergies that can cause an anaphylactic reaction such as trouble breathing or tightness in the chest generally carry an Epipen at all times. An Epipen is an injectable prescription medication used to stop a severe reaction. While allergy medications for these symptoms are prescribed by a doctor, a pharmacist can show you how to use them and make sure the medications have not expired.

Allergy season is a common trigger of asthma attacks. If you or a family member is susceptible to these attacks, be sure to talk with your pharmacist about being prepared. Pharmacists can make sure your rescue inhaler is appropriate and in-date. They will also provide you with tips for correct usage.

October is American Pharmacists Month and I encourage you to take advantage of your pharmacist’s extensive knowledge. We are eager to share our medication expertise and we truly care about our patients’ health and happiness. With good advice, you should be able to make it through allergy season comfortably.