Statistics

• According to Dr. Manny Alvarez, chairman of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, seasonal allergies affect approximately 40 percent of children in the US.
  
  

Cause

• Seasonal allergies occur when your child's immune system identifies seasonally produced dust, mold or pollen as enemies, triggering a protective reaction in the body that releases histamines, the chemicals that are responsible for most allergy symptoms.
  
  

Symptoms

• Symptoms of seasonal allergies include itchy eyes and nose, nasal congestion, sneezing and dark circles under the eyes from the nasal congestion.
  
  

Diagnosis and Treatment

• In order to diagnose seasonal allergies, your child's doctor will ask about symptoms and conduct a physical exam, possibly referring your little one to an allergist for specialized testing (blood test or skin test). Possible medications include antihistamines, steroids and decongestants.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Since you can't completely control your child's environment at all times, prevention of seasonal allergies is difficult; your child is also more likely to develop seasonal allergies if one of his parents has seasonal allergies, according to BabyCenter.Com. Solutions to minimize symptoms vary depending upon the type of allergy your child has but include keeping track of the local pollen count, staying away from freshly mowed lawns and avoiding damp leaves which could harbor mold spores.