Hi,
I have 2 girls ages 5 and 2.5 who have no health issues, but they do get colds fairly often--about every 7-8 weeks.. My oldest is in MDO 3 days/wk. my youngest is still breastfeeding. EVERY time my oldest comes down w a cold, my mom almost insists that it's allergies. None of us have been tested for allergies because I do not think at all that any of us suffer from them. Usually it is my oldest that comes down w it first (most likely due to exposure at MDO), followed by the youngest usually within a day or so, then sometimes myself, and rarely my husband. The youngest doesn't get it as badly because she is breastfeeding. Sometimes the oldest will run a low grade temp around 99-100, but not every time. But every single time I tell my mom they have a cold, she proceeds to tell me how high the tree pollen count is that day, or how high the mold is, or whatever...but if it were allergies, wouldn't they be sick EVERY time the counts were high? How often does that happen? Isn't it more often than every 7-8 weeks? Wouldn't they be sneezing, watery eyes, itchy nose/throat, and coughing pretty much all the time? My brother has been tested and is allergic to all kinds of things and I can't think of a time when he ISN'T stuffy/sneezing. During spring time, don't people w allergies take medicine every day? Allegra/Claritin is an every day or most every day pill, right?? My girls NEVER, I repeat, NEVER sneeze, have a runny/stuffy nose or cough EVER, unless they have a cold, which again, is about every 2 months. Should I have them tested?? I really want my mom to drop it, and she knows that, but she WON'T! Kind of driving me nuts to the point I avoid telling her they have a cold sometimes! Okay, rant over. What's your input? TIA :)
Thank you for your input ladies ;)
I decided to register for pollen alerts on The Weather Channel so I am emailed the counts on a daily basis. I'm going to record on my phone calendar the times when the kids have a 'cold' and when I don't put anything in for the day, they are well. Then I can compare the pollen counts to their well and sick days and prove to my mom that way that they don't have allergies! Much easier (although a little bit of work, it's worth it!) than going to the doctor and having them poked with a needle :(
Can't wait until I have enough proof to show her and hopefully stop the nonsense! Lol! :D
I had a CAT scan of my sinus's because I was having chronic sinusitis all through the spring then again in late August. Allergies would aggravate my sinus passage, which I learned are very narrow, and an infection would follow. I think it is possible that slight allergies could be causing the colds.
Allergies won't produce a fever.
Bear in mind, too, that generally speaking, allergies don't cause a fever. If your child has a fever, it isn't from allergies. Although, they can have allergies that make cold symptoms seem worse.
My son has allergies to environmental stuff (mold, pollen, etc)... and he never runs a fever with just his allergy symptoms. He only gets fevers when he has contracted a virus of some sort...
It doesn't sound like allergies to me, simply because you get it as a trickle effect - first the oldest, then the youngest, then you. If it was allergies, you'd all show your symptoms at the same time, rather than catching it from each other. Sounds more like colds to me.
Is this the first year your oldest has been in the MDO program. It is VERY common for kids to get sick every month or two when they first start in a school type setting, since they are exposed to so many more germs than they ever were before. My son was sick once a month for six straight months his first year in preschool.
I'd just avoid telling your mom they're sick. With any luck, their immune systems will build up after spending a little more time in the group setting.
I suffer from allergies and have for many many years. It does not sound like allergies to me, but who knows. What does your pediatrician say? Do you have medical insurance? If so it might be worth the $20 copayment to take them to be tested for allergies to shut your mom up.
My mother in law does the same thing...to me. Every cold, cough or sniffle I have she swears are allergies. Fortunately, I don't suffer from seasonal allergies. I completely understand your irritation. It does get old to hear her diagnosis.
My kids do suffer from allergies. They do get cold like symptoms. Mostly a runny nose, sometimes a cough. NO fever. The pediatrician asked if they did the "allergy salute", which he demonstrated (basically the hand palm up swiping/ itching the nose). Both of my kids do this often. And my pediatrician says he can see a line on the inside of their nose where they are constantly rubbing it. He says it's a classic tale tale sign. My son also has bags under his eyes when it's a bad season. Doc says that too is a symptom. My kids don't sneeze or have itchy eyes for the most part.
Allergy testing was not recommended or needed in our case. I don't really need to know specifically what elements my kids are allergic to at this point. If their symptoms worsen or they are affected by more things, then the doctor will revisit the idea of allergy tests.
My son is affected worse, he takes an allergy medicine daily during spring and summer and "as needed" in the fall and winter. (We too are in Texas and you know we get random spring-like days often). My daughter isn't as sensitive and she takes medicine "as needed", which is daily during the spring for sure.
I'd simply ask their pediatrician if allergies are suspected the next time you go in for a well check or sick check. If for no other reason, to stop you mom from driving you crazy.
It’s not all black and white. My SO gets a sinus infection every 6 months which starts out from having allergies (runny nose, lots of drainage, etc). My oldest LO rarely gets a cold and suffers from some allergies and no – no fever. However my youngest starts out with allergies that causes so much drainage that it gets into her lungs and causes an infection – and yes, she gets a fever. Because of her allergies, her upper airway (the lining of the windpipe and the voice box) becomes more inflamed and swollen and thus develops into an “upper respiratory infection” or otherwise called a “cold”.
Also, being a long time sufferer (more than 20 years) of allergies that started out as just an annoying cough to now (depending on what pollens are active) flu like symptoms – your Mother could be right. Think about Cedar fever – it’s not a viral/bacteria infection but one of the symptoms is a fever – hence the name. So everyone who says allergies do not produce a fever, well, they are not from Texas =) or perhaps don’t suffer from it.
For me I go by the symptoms – if they (your two) have clear runny nose, then it’s allergies. If it’s green or tinted then it’s turned into an infection. Otherwise the symptoms are similar for both. Here is a good source that can explain some of the differences and similarities (http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/common-cold-...) and of course, discuss with your Pedi if you are concerned.
Why don't you just take them to the Pedi and get your answer.
I would not sit around if my child routinely was sick every 7-8 weeks. Something is not right. I'd be getting answers from a Dr.
Don't compromise on health and safety, especially for children.
My girlfriend's daughter has gotten pneumonia twice within two months and hospitalized both times for them. They were afraid she had asthma due to all the coughing, congestion, fevers, etc. We just had her tested for asthma which it wasn't. They did an allergy test where they gave her a series of shots to see how her body reacted to them. I know shots are no fun, BUT we found out that there were things she was allergic to that we wouldn't have thought of. She had been getting sick like this too, but she's allergic to dust, pollen, grass--a variety of things. No allergies alone will not cause a fever, but if her allergies are really bad they can cause the cold which will cause that fever you've been describing. Our youngest is all the time having a terrible cough and everything. She's never had the itchy, watery eyes and runny nose though. But Keep the calendar going like you're planning to do. And mama may be on to something with the allergies. I know it sounds annoying to say that, but get the babies tested and best of luck hon.
Any time my mother-in-law or other person would tell me what to do or what they thought that was in direct conflict with my personal observations, I would just say, "Oh, that's interesting, but my doctor said ..." or "I didn't know that. I just know that my doctor told me ..." It usually was something I had specifically asked my doctor but other times it was just to quiet them. It worked every time.
