The holidays of an allergic child require a little preparation. From the destination to the means of transport, via accommodation and the choice of activities, some advice is essential. Learn the precautions for a carefree vacation.
Summary
- Prepare your vacation with the allergist
- Pollen allergy: the choice of destination
- Prevent insect allergy
- Allergy to pets
- Food allergy
- Sun allergy
Allergy: protecting your child on vacation
The suitcases are ready, the sporting goods are in the car … Nothing should spoil the holidays of the whole family … not even the allergy of your youngest. Thanks to the advice of the Asthma and Allergies 1 Association, go with a light mind!
Prepare your vacation with the allergist
Whatever their destination, the holidays require a little preparation for allergic children, like any other particular activity. The first measure is to go to your doctor or allergist before departure.
During this consultation, all points must be addressed: destination, accommodation, means of transport and activities on site. This professional will be able to assess the potential risks for your child. Certain precautions are indeed essential to prevent and manage a crisis, even abroad.
In all cases, the basic precautions are:
Provide sufficient background treatments and symptom or crisis treatments and have with you the personalized action plan to follow in the event of a crisis;
For a stay abroad, take the packaging of the drugs or know their International Nonproprietary Name (INN), ie their chemical name;
Depending on the country, apply for a European Social Security Health Insurance card and inquire about the country's emergency numbers;
Update the child's vaccinations;
Adrenaline-based emergency treatment if the child has already had a general allergic reaction, such as angioedema or anaphylactic shock;
An analgesic like paracetamol;
Eye drops or saline solution in case of conjunctivitis;
Handkerchiefs or cotton;
Find out about the contact details of the various emergency services and doctors on site;
The contact details of the French Embassy and other consular services;
Long clothes and closed shoes as well as repellents in case of allergy to insect bites.The Individualized Reception Project
Your child is allergic and spends his holidays in a colony or in a leisure center? You can set up an Individualized Reception Project, also called PAI. The latter is a document written for children suffering from allergies, food intolerance but also chronic illness and intended for school leaders, representatives or directors of colonies.
The doctor writes the PAI and specifies the medical treatments and / or the specific regimes related to food intolerances (rule of eviction, usual manifestations, behavior to be taken in case of emergency, treatment) during school or extracurricular time for keep the holiday center or establishment informed, informs Service-Public.fr1.
Pollen allergy: the choice of destination
In case of pollen allergy, prefer:
Holidays by the sea;
Boat cruises;
Stays in desert regions.These destinations will be more “comfortable” for those allergic to pollens than a vacation in the countryside or at a campsite. “The destination depends on the pollens to which you are allergic and the time of year” explains Dr. Julien Cottet, allergist. “The mountain is full of forage grasses” takes the doctor as an example.
It is useful to find out about the quantity of pollens present in the region where you are going. The National Aerobiological Surveillance Network2 (RNSA) establishes a vigilance card. As of June 17, 2020, “pollen from sorrel and plantain will be present all over the country with a risk of allergy not exceeding the low level”, he also reports pollens from olive oak and parionaire around the Mediterranean between rain showers.
It is also advisable to follow the pollen calendar: from January to April, tree pollen comes into play, April, May, June, it is the turn of the grasses, then it is the grasses from July to October. Finally, the site offers applications such as Pollen alerts, My life of Allergik and Pollen, for optimal support during the holidays.
Watch out for outdoor activities
To reduce the impact of pollens on health, the Ministry of Solidarity and Health3 and the allergist Dr. Cottet recommend adopting a few actions:
Wash in the evening and rinse your hair to remove pollen and not to spread it in your house;
Ventilate your interior by opening your windows early in the morning or very late in the evening;
Avoid exposure to other irritants such as tobacco or home fragrances.Outdoors, some recommendations should also be taken into account, such as:
Wear a mask;
Wear glasses so that the pollen sticks against the glasses and does not reach the eyes;
Avoid activities that lead to over-exposure to pollens (mowing lawns, garden maintenance, sports activities, and favor the end of the day, protective glasses and if possible a mask);
Avoid drying clothes outside;
Keep the windows closed in a place