maintenance medicine for allergic rhinitis in kids

[miksha]

my child was diagnosed with allergic rhinitis and was given avamys nose spray as maintenance medication. A little history lang: My son since he was born monthly meron siya sipon at ubo. so monthly he was on cough and cold meds and since hindi siya gumagaling doon natutuloy sa antibiotics. So  monthly cough and cold medicines, antihistamines, antibiotics. So lumalabas he is never well. As parents we feel na baka may ibang cause and this is not normal so we went to a pulmo pedia who told us to see an allergologist. They gave him a skin test and did some checkups. He was diagnosed with allergic rhinitis. He was given avamys nasal spray as maintenance medicine. he was supposed to take it once a day for a 3 months and then we will start to taper and the will not use anymore. ang nangyayari whenever we start to taper nagsisimula ulit ang pagsisipon niya na natutuloy sa ubo hanggang sa lala na (sore throat, needs antibiotics, etc...). So we were advised na huwag na siya itaper and use it regularly once a day. Very mild ang improvement. Nagkakasakit pa din siya every 2months sometimes even monthly. Kapag sinipon kase siya nagdederetso na ito sa ubo then malalang ubo and sore throat, tumatamlay na and matagal siya gumaling at least. minsan ang rest period lang niya from sickness (meaning ito ang days na wala siyang sakit) is a week and then maririnig nanaman namin na ayan na may runny nose nanaman and then later may ubo na. Because of this we were prescribed aerius syrup to be taken once a day. This was also supposed to be taken only for a month and then stopped. While he was on aerius with avamys ok siya. but whenever we stop the aerius ayan uulit nanaman ang sipon. So we were advised to take aerius regularly with the avamys. So he is now using this medicines for over a year now.
Our concern is since medicines ito siyempre worried kami on the long term use (may side effects iyan for sure). Nakailang doctors na kami (pedia, allergologist) and they say that it's ok to take it long term. it's very safe. Some take it for more than 4years. But we have also encountered a few doctors who disagree with this and they even say that allergic rhinitis is not to be treated. Mas ok pa daw na monthly mag antibiotic ang anak ko kaysa sa naka longterm na antihistamine na aerius and avamys.
As a parent i do worry about my child if we are taking the right path and we have chosen the right decision. tinitingnan ko din siya and he is alright. Normal naman siyang bata. Ever since he was on the meds he rarely gets any colds and cough. As in 3 times in a year na lang siya kung magkaroon and in those instances once pa lang siya gumamit nang antibiotics. Siyempre ayoko na lagi na lang may sakit ang anak ko pero worried din ako sa mga long term medicines. bata pa ang anak ko ( 8years old), in the long run i don't know if this will do any harm to him.
to combat the allergies nga before na hindi pa siya nakamaintenance ang dami na namin ginawa, hypoallergenic beddings, air purifier with ionizer, frequent palit of sheets and curtains, washing them in hot water, keeping his room clean and his things, nakakapagod....
Has anyone gone through this... Gusto ko na magstop maintenance meds niya and hindi ko alam kung sinong doctor and susundin ko (some say to use it regularly, some say stop and we will just treat him when he gets sick again with regular cold/cough/antihistamine/antibiotic when he gets sick)

[agape]

When I was young I was allergic to different foods (oily, seafood, even chocolate). My allergic rhinitis started when I was grade 4. Usually when I go to bed, my nose is clogged na, and can't breathe normally. Through High School I was on anti-histamines (cetirizine, loratidine) sometimes with steroid sya for 1-2 weeks until stable, on and off yun. I had antibody injections din kasi I was always sick, like having mouth sores, lymph nodes around the neck. If my allergy gets worse, I get asthma na rin. When my rhinitis gets worse, syempre breeding grounds na rin for infections yun, I get sinusitis and go on antibiotics for 1-2 weeks, almost yearly. I never liked nasal sprays. Now that I'm adult nya, I just try to boost my immune system, para iwas anti-histamine/steroidal medicines. Iwas din sa allergy triggers ko, cigarrette smoke, air pollution, strong perfumes, dustmites, other insects etc.
When I take medz, I take all, 1 for allergy, 1 for cough/cold, 1 antibiotic. Usually 3 talaga yun, para kung ano pa man yung totoong cause, e addressed all areas. The side effect I get is drowsiness, other than that I'm not sure. But since it's drowsiness, the effect is in the brain/nervous system, yun din kasi ang main concern ko. Also too much medz is bad for the liver.

[miksha]

^ pero sis  hindi ka naging regularly taking like daily for a year? lage ka on-off lang kumbaga whenever needed lang?

[hunny_ally]

How old is your kid? My son too had allergy episodes since NB (so severe it led to 5 pneumonia episodes) but the doctor wouldn't want to label it as allergic rhinitis. From what I understood, they only label it as such 2yo-up. He had been taking montelukast but on and off. His allergy gets triggered whenever he stops taking this. The doctor said to just continue taking this. He's been taking this non-stop since September 2011. So far no allergic attacks

[miksha]

^ he is 8. He was given montelukast before by his general pediatrician but the pulmo pedia and allergologist said this is not needed and the avamys and aerius should suffice no need for montelukast. montelukast is a steroid and even if steroid din and avamys it is better sa longterm view since local steroid siya unlike montelukast na intake for the whole body.

[hunny_ally]

^from what I know montelukast is NOT a steroid. According to doc lelet here in GT this is actually a steroid sparer. It gives the same benefits as steroids. But unlike steroids, you can give this for a longer period. Concern kasi namin yan since his immunologist was suggesting of giving it for a long period of time.

[leletmd]

@milksha:
hunny_ally is right. Montelukast is NOT a steroid. It is a leukotriene antagonist. It works like a steroid, but it doesn't have the bad side effects of a steroid which is why it can be given for a long period of time. We sometimes use it as conservative management for kids with allergic rhinitis, or as an add on medication, especially if they have asthma or at risk for developing asthma. In terms of potency, nasal steroids produce better symptom control compared to anti-leukotrienes.
Deciding what to give as meds for allergic rhinitis would depend on duration of symptoms and effect on the quality of life of the patients. If for instance, symptoms are intermittent and would appear only at certain seasons and it doesn't affect the quality of life of the patient, then anti -histamines may be given.
If the symptoms appear almost daily and for a long period of time and affects the quality of life, then maintenance medications have to be started.
Maintenance meds for Allergic rhinitis involves the use of nasal steroid sprays for at least 3 months. The nasal steroid sprays have to be tapered before discontinuation. Add on medications include anti-histamines and anti -leukotrienes such as montelukast.
Side effects of nasal steroid sprays include drying of the nasal and oral mucosa and development of oral ulcers. Thus, the need to gargle after each use. It doesn't cause weight gain or decrease in growth unlike oral steroids.
If the patient cannot avoid exposure to his allergic triggers and if maintenance medications do not seem to be working, then allergy vaccines or immunotherapy may be started.
Immunotherapy involves the introduction of the patient's allergens by subcutaneous injection in increasing doses over a long period of time, such that the patient develops blocking antibodies as well as tolerance against the allergic triggers. If your allergologist hasn't discussed this option with you, I suggest you ask about it.

[TANYEN]

my child was diagnosed with allergic rhinitis and was given avamys nose spray as maintenance medication. A little history lang: My son since he was born monthly meron siya sipon at ubo. so monthly he was on cough and cold meds and since hindi siya gumagaling doon natutuloy sa antibiotics. So  monthly cough and cold medicines, antihistamines, antibiotics. So lumalabas he is never well. As parents we feel na baka may ibang cause and this is not normal so we went to a pulmo pedia who told us to see an allergologist. They gave him a skin test and did some checkups. He was diagnosed with allergic rhinitis. He was given avamys nasal spray as maintenance medicine. he was supposed to take it once a day for a 3 months and then we will start to taper and the will not use anymore. ang nangyayari whenever we start to taper nagsisimula ulit ang pagsisipon niya na natutuloy sa ubo hanggang sa lala na (sore throat, needs antibiotics, etc...). So we were advised na huwag na siya itaper and use it regularly once a day. Very mild ang improvement. Nagkakasakit pa din siya every 2months sometimes even monthly. Kapag sinipon kase siya nagdederetso na ito sa ubo then malalang ubo and sore throat, tumatamlay na and matagal siya gumaling at least. minsan ang rest period lang niya from sickness (meaning ito ang days na wala siyang sakit) is a week and then maririnig nanaman namin na ayan na may runny nose nanaman and then later may ubo na. Because of this we were prescribed aerius syrup to be taken once a day. This was also supposed to be taken only for a month and then stopped. While he was on aerius with avamys ok siya. but whenever we stop the aerius ayan uulit nanaman ang sipon. So we were advised to take aerius regularly with the avamys. So he is now using this medicines for over a year now.
Our concern is since medicines ito siyempre worried kami on the long term use (may side effects iyan for sure). Nakailang doctors na kami (pedia, allergologist) and they say that it's ok to take it long term. it's very safe. Some take it for more than 4years. But we have also encountered a few doctors who disagree with this and they even say that allergic rhinitis is not to be treated. Mas ok pa daw na monthly mag antibiotic ang anak ko kaysa sa naka longterm na antihistamine na aerius and avamys.
As a parent i do worry about my child if we are taking the right path and we have chosen the right decision. tinitingnan ko din siya and he is alright. Normal naman siyang bata. Ever since he was on the meds he rarely gets any colds and cough. As in 3 times in a year na lang siya kung magkaroon and in those instances once pa lang siya gumamit nang antibiotics. Siyempre ayoko na lagi na lang may sakit ang anak ko pero worried din ako sa mga long term medicines. bata pa ang anak ko ( 8years old), in the long run i don't know if this will do any harm to him.
to combat the allergies nga before na hindi pa siya nakamaintenance ang dami na namin ginawa, hypoallergenic beddings, air purifier with ionizer, frequent palit of sheets and curtains, washing them in hot water, keeping his room clean and his things, nakakapagod....
Has anyone gone through this... Gusto ko na magstop maintenance meds niya and hindi ko alam kung sinong doctor and susundin ko (some say to use it regularly, some say stop and we will just treat him when he gets sick again with regular cold/cough/antihistamine/antibiotic when he gets sick)

sis diagnosed din anak ko sa allergic rhinitis un nga namamantal palagi even malinis naman ang beddings namin may ubo minsan.nakakaawa nga minsan [textspeak!] nguso namamaga at [textspeak!] sa ilalim ng mata.pero after taking antihistamine ok na ulet..ngaun parang lagi sya nagkakaroon ng pantal halos 3x a week so inom nnman ng gamot.sis magkano ang skintest nyan balak kasi namin dalhin sa allergologist.sana covered ng healthcard nya.

[lilsaintsm0m]

sis why don't you ask your allergo about immunotheraphy? Since you mentioned na he's already 8yrs old. I'm considering this for my son when he reaches  7 or 8. Since these allergies are for life na at di naman nawawala gusto ko talaga ito for my son. Super dami ng allergens even if i keep my home free of these meron at meron parin siyang ma eencounter na allergens outside the home. Magastos ang manintenance. Mejo pricey din itong immunotheraphy pero this is for a long term treatment 3-5 yrs. Try to google it and read more about it..

[chiqmom]

my son is also taking montelukast for 4 months na. last year, alnix sya but since sabi ng doctor until 1 year lang dapat magtake nun, he was prescribed with montelukast. when he missed a dose, inuubo na sya and it always lead to asthma. i want to find a natural approach sana. right now I am contemplating of buying an air humidifier and I hope mabawasan allergies nya once we have it na. 

[hunny_ally]

^my kids' Pedia recommends getting an air sterilizer/purifier cause this can kill the airborne allergens unlike a humidifier

[lilsaintsm0m]

We were also thinking of getting air purifier and humidifier before when my son had intense allergic rhinitis attacks. My son's allergo doctor recommended a Himalayan Rock salt lamp. Medjo mahirap lang hagilapin. This helps people with asthma or rhinitis and other respiratory diseases. Super effective siya according to her cause she also has two in her house.

[chiqmom]

^^thanks als. what brand gamit nyo?

^i tried looking for those lamps online, meron sa Sulit. 

so far, 4 days ng hindi nagtatake ng med anak ko. i tried the lavender eo trick every night.

[vanj19]

^sis what do you mean by lavender eo trick?
our daughter is 13 yrs old na and neverending sipon, nasa family side ng husband ko allergic rhinitis eh

[agape]

2012 pa pala ang last post ko dito. Anyways, I have addressed my allergic rhinitis. I am so happy with the supplements I have been taking. No more allergies. No more drowsiness. I can travel, do outdoor activities, and eat all kinds of food with no more worries.

[chiqmom]

^^yung pagamit ng essential oil. bumili lang ako ng diffuser then every night bago sya matulog, nagddifuse ako sa kwarto. okay naman.