10 Questions to ask your pediatrician

Your child's doctor is a vital resource for all your questions about allergies in children. Yet it's easy to forget the important things when you're in the doctor's office. Here's a list of key questions to ask about allergies in children. Print it and bring it to your child's next doctor's appointment.

1. How do you know my child has nasal allergies? How can you confirm the diagnosis?
2. What are the best over-the-counter or prescription medicines for my child, and what side effects should I watch for?
3. Does my child also need allergy shots (immunotherapy), further allergy testing, or other allergy treatment?
4. Is there anything else I should be doing to help control the allergies, such as dusting the house more often or taking other environmental measures?
5. If my child develops a cough, especially at night, could that be related to nasal allergies?
6. How can I tell the difference between my child having allergy symptoms and having a cold?
7. We have pets. Do they make treating allergies more difficult?
8. Should my child carry a dose of epinephrine or wear a medical alert bracelet?
9. Which allergy symptoms are serious enough to call the doctor and schedule a visit?
10. At what point should my child see an allergist in addition to a pediatrician for allergy treatment?

WebMD Medical Reference

SOURCES:
Clifford Bassett, MD, vice-chair, public education committee, American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, allergy specialist, New York City.
Dennis Woo, MD, pediatrician, Santa Monica—UCLA & Orthopaedic Hospital, Santa Monica, Calif.
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on Sept 17, 2008

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