Managing Allergic Rhinitis, Atopic Dermatitis and Asthma

We had a visit to the doctor for last week because the twins were coughing like crazy for over 3 days.
One of them is starting to get better but we haven't seen improvement with my other daughter. She's been nebulizing and taking her anti-histamines to make sure she's not having asthma attacks. It does help her breathe a lot better and she asks for it before sleeping at night.

Admittedly, this is the fourth pediatrician that we approached for check-ups. The first one we had was in St. Luke's and her consult's a bit too pricey. Plus she wasn't always around. The second one was better but it's still in St Luke's Quezon City. Her schedule collides with the twin's pre-school hours and we weren't able to go back when they started school. We tried one from Medicard and another one from Lung Center....and it just didn't click. There wasn't any spark at all. I mean, if you're handling kids, I expect them to be a bit nicer than usual, not cold. The pedia-pulmonologist from Lung Center was the worst! I meant she does know what she's doing but we had to wait for 3 hours for her to arrive. Seriously?! Waiting with kids with short attention spans is a huge challenge and I'm sure parents are all willing to wait for their turns but hey don't let your patients wait for 2 hours without even calling your clinic. Sorry, just letting it all out.

The one we went to last week was for keeps. I like how she responds to calls and questions through text messages. She's very accommodating and nice to the twins. The twins like her too. She also shares a lot of information on how to handle or manage allergies in children.


Allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma usually come together... yes, in one package. My brother has all three, I have two and one of the twins hit the jackpot getting all three.

Here are the tips on how to manage Allergic Rhinitis, Atopic Dermatitis and Asthma:


For Allergic rhinitis and asthma:
    1. Daily dusting and weekly washing of curtains and sheets. Yes, daily dusting is now mandatory. Use a damp cloth for wiping furniture and/or a vacuum cleaner. We have invested in microfiber cloths for cleaning the rooms so it dries up quickly and it doesn't spread dust.
    2. Invest in an air purifier not a humidifier.
    3. Check if they're allergic to pet hair and dander.
    4. Minimize or eliminate perfumes totally. Mild and unscented is better.
    5. Always keep your nebulizer and steroids within reach. Bring them when travelling too! You'll never know when they're needed.


Atopic dermatitis:
1. Remember the 3-minute rule.
        I've never heard of this rule before my doctor mentioned it. Our doctor's advise: Shower for 3 minutes or less and apply lotion/topical medicine in 3 minutes after showering.

2. Use mild soaps or body wash.
Again, unscented is better. We tried numerous products from Baby Flo, J&J, Aveeno, Nivea, Baby Dove, Cetaphil, Physioderm and other organic soaps. It seems like their skin agrees with the organic soaps and Baby Dove the best. Do take the time and effort to know which cleanser works well with your baby's skin.

3. Keep steroids handy.
Ask your doctor what are the brands she/he recommends for use. Our OTC steroid is Elica and it seems to work well with the kids.

4. Use mild Fabric conditioners and laundry detergents.

There are many cleaning products and detergents made for babies out in the market. Check them out in this article. Go for products labeled mild, scent free and hypoallergenic.


5. Do not feed your child more than one potential allergen in one meal.

Among the list of allergens in my children's list are fish, shrimp, eggs and chicken. We never serve them together in one meal.  This one helps you find out which one truly causes the skin allergies.


6. Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil.
We apply this to our children's skin's affected areas and it their allergies seem to improve overnight.

7. Use lotion that specifically made for dermatitis.

Try looking for products specifically made for eczema or one with oatmeal for moisturizing and itch relief.

Disclaimer: Not a doctor or specialist. Just sharing what we do at home. :)



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