You gave your child her looks, her charm, her brains and her
athletic ability. You also gave her summer allergies that make
her wheeze, sneeze, itch and twitch. The least you can do to
make up for this terrible genetic injustice is help her find
ways to escape the scourge of summer allergies. Summer Allergies
in Children Allergies run in families. If both parents suffer
allergies, their children have a 75 to 80 percent probability of
developing allergies too. A child who has one parent with
allergies and one without stands a 40 percent chance of
developing an allergy. The three main spring and summer
allergens are tree pollens, grasses and ragweed. If you suspect
your offspring may have allergies, ask your pediatrician about a
skin-prick allergy test or a RAST blood test to determine the
exact cause of your child’s symptoms before you take drastic
action. Your kids will disown you if you give away the family
dog only to later learn your child is allergic to grass.
Reducing Household Allergens The first step t