Allergies in School

Filed in archive Dust Mite Allergies , Hay Fever , Living with Allergies on December 21, 2007

If you're child comes home from school always ill, having runny nose, sneezing, eye irritation, you might want to consider that possibility that he's "allergic to school".

The usual culprits could be chalk dust, dust mites, dander from the class pet, or pollen for open windows (of course there's also food allergies, but that manifests different symptoms). Sometimes, it could be the cleaning materials used in the school, as well.

For example, art class, after finger painting, tables are sprayed with cleaner and the children wipe down the tables. After continual exposure to cleaning chemicals in the bathrooms, classrooms, art room and gym your child comes home feeling ill. Eyes are swollen, wheezing has started, exhaustion has set in but we cannot identify why. The everyday cleaning chemicals our children are exposed to are made of clorox, ammonia and some even contain pesticides.

If you think your child is having allergy symptoms triggered by these, talk it out with your child's teacher or school staff. Find out what triggers your child's allergies and how to minimize his exposure, to make his time in school more productive and enjoyable.