Pollution

Whether your family live in a tree-lined street, a block of flats or a beautiful countryside setting, air pollution is something that we all come into contact with at sometime or another.

Although some of the time we are not aware of them, high concentrations of chemicals such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and diesel particles pollute our air every day. These pollutants can irritate the eyes, nose and airways in all of us; but those that already suffer from allergies caused by pollens and spores may suffer more.

One of the later phases of the body's allergic response is to make the nasal passages more sensitive to irritants; this is known as "nasal hyper-responsiveness". If your child is particularly suffering with allergies one day or seems to become extra sensitive over a period of time, this may be the reason.

Coping with pollution

Cigarette smoke, perfume, aerosol sprays, insecticides as well as industrial pollution can all act as "irritant triggers" - which can worsen the effect of symptoms of an allergic reaction. Avoid smoky rooms and, of course, if you smoke yourself, the best way to help those in your family who suffer from allergies to find relief is to give up.

Other irritants

There are other factors which should also be considered as possible causes of your allergy symptoms such as an itchy, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes etc.

Those that have developed this extra sensitivity (nasal hyper-responsiveness) may find that things such as smoke, perfumes, strong smells or changes in temperature and humidity can trigger symptoms. It can be hard to avoid all of these things, but finding the right information on precisely what it is that affects you will make that easier.

Coping with irritants

Avoid using strong perfumes and ask close friends and family to do the same - especially at times of the year when the sufferers are most likely to be showing symptoms.

Also try to avoid sudden temperature changes; this can increase your sensitivity to allergy triggers, too.