What Parents Need to Know About Cedar Fever  
For parents, every season brings its parenting challenges. In winter, colder weather, flu season, snow, winter break, and other topics are on parent’s minds. But as you settle down for winter’s worst, don’t forget an oft-overlooked winter ailment: cedar fever. “Cedar fever” is the colloquial term for a seasonal allergy brought on by pollen from mountain cedar (also known as Ashe Juniper) trees. Cedar fever affects many people each year, but it is particular bad for Texas residents, especially in major cities such as Austin. Cedar fever season, which lasts from November through March, is nasty at worst and unpleasant at best, and it affects both adults and children. Don’t let your child suffer this cedar fever season. Learn about cedar fever and its common symptoms so that you can seek out treatment.
 
Cold or Allergies? Cedar Fever Symptoms
 Many parents have a difficult time distinguishing between a cold and allergies. This is understandable, as allergies are often mild enough to go unnoticed or to be excused as something else. The biggest distinguishing factor between a cold and allergies is the time it lasts. A cold lasts anywhere between 3 and 14 days, whereas allergies can last days to months. Cold symptoms begin a few days after infection with the virus, whereas allergy symptoms appear immediately on contact with the allergen or allergens. Cold symptoms include sneezing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, cough, fatigue, and general aches and pains. Allergy symptoms include itchy, red or watery eyes, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and occasionally, fatigue.
 
Cedar Fever Prevention
Residents of Texas have seen the vast clouds of dust that float around major urban areas this time of year—that’s cedar pollen, and unfortunately, it’s not totally avoidable. That said, the best way to prevent cedar fever symptoms is avoiding coming into contact with cedar pollen as much as possible. Here are some quick prevention tips:
 
 -Keep doors and windows closed. Both at home and in your car. Otherwise, pollen will get in and your little one will be sneezing for the rest of the afternoon. Run the air conditioner instead.
 
-Dust often. Use a damp cloth to wipe down all surfaces in your home regularly. You’d be surprised at how much pollen and dirt manages to build up!
 
-Change your air conditioning filter. If your child’s allergies are severe, you’ll want to use a HEPA (high efficiency particular air) filter, which is much more efficient at filtering out pollen than regular filters.
 
-Have your children change clothes when coming in from outside. Don’t let your kids drag in pollen from outside. Have them take off their shoes and change their clothes when coming back inside. Another good idea is to have them shower briefly or rinse out their hair (a favorite home of pollen).
 
-Get rid of cedar trees in your yard. Do you have cedar trees anywhere on your property? You can forget about allergy relief with a cedar tree so close by. Hire a professional replace your cedar trees with a hardwood such as elm or oak that won’t cause an allergic reaction.
         
-Bathe pets often. If you have pets who go outside, make sure that you bathe them often, as pollen can be dragged inside on their coats. If you can’t rinse off their fur, at least take a brush to them before you allow them to come back inside.
 
Treatment Options - When to See Your Pediatrician
 While cedar fever is an unpleasant to deal with, don’t get discouraged. With the proper treatment and management plan, your child can live a happy and fulfilling live even with allergies. There are many treatment options for cedar fever. Over the counter remedies, appropriate for those with mild allergy symptoms, include antihistamines or decongestants in pill, spray, and drop form. Prescription medication, for those with more persistent symptoms, include stronger formulas of OTC medication, oral or nasal corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory drugs. Another, more permanent treatment option is immunotherapy, or allergy shots. Allergy shots, which are administered over the course of several months, can significantly reduce allergy symptoms and improve quality of life.
 

Chillier weather brings its own set of hazards. Between the common dangers involved in winter activities and the potential health effects of adverse weather, winter is rife with things parents should be cautious of. But now that winter weather has arrived, it’s important to not only keep your kids safe, healthy, and warm, but to instruct them in the best safety and health practices for winter. Here we’ve compiled our best tips.
 
Safety Tips
 
-Layer up. Make sure that your kids are always dressed warmly, and that their heads, necks, and hands are always covered. Remember, in winter, it’s always better to dress up than to dress down. Gloves and hats are an absolute must in snow—do not leave skin exposed to the snow. Remember that you can always peel off layers when necessary.
 
-Beware clothing hazards. While layering up is key, it’s important to keep an eye on potential choking and strangle hazards such as scarves, hood strings, etc that can be dangerous for young children.
 
-Take regular breaks. If your children enjoy playing outside, encourage them to come inside for regular breaks. Give them a warm drink and a snack to refuel. This is especially important for younger children, but you should regularly check in on older children, too.
 
-Stay hydrated. This goes off the previous tip, but its importance cannot be overstated. It is key that you encourage children to stay hydrated during winter. Dehydration is a real concern—not just in summer when the sun beats down, but in winter as well. The body loses more fluids more quickly in colder weather.
 
-Don’t let children play outside alone. The buddy system is always a good rule of thumb, especially in adverse weather. Get together with one or two of your child’s friends, and encourage them to look out for one another. Children younger than age 8 should only be permitted to play outside with adult permission.
 
-Pick safe play areas. It’s a good idea to pick ideal play spots out for your children ahead of time. In winter, opt for somewhere close that is nearby warm shelter (ex: near home or a friend’s home). Do not allow children to play on roadsides or on snow banks, where snowplow drivers and other motorists may not be able to see them.
 
-Avoid severe weather. Do not allow children outside in severe conditions such as a snowstorm, nor if the outside temperature or windchill is reported as  (-16oF) or lower. Exposed skin will begin to freeze at these temperatures.
 
-Apply sunscreen. Apply sunscreen to exposed skin, even if it’s cold or cloudy. The sun can still bite and burn in winter—it’s important to stay protected.
 
-Look out for danger signs. Know the symptoms of frostbite and keep an eye out for them. Signs of frostbite include pale, grey, or blistered skin (typically on the fingers, ears, nose, or toes). Signs of hypothermia include shivering, dizziness, fatigue, increased heart rate, confusion, difficulty or rapid breathing, difficult speaking, lack of coordination, and nausea.  If you believe that your child has contracted frostbite, bring your child inside immediately and apply warm water to the affected area.
 
Illness Prevention
 
Winter is notorious sick weather, and many children (and parents, too!) succumb to the cold or flu during this time of year.  Between harsher weather, stuffy indoor air, and shared spaces, it’s rather easy to catch something during the winter season. But no child wants to be hauled up indoors all winter long because they’re sick, and no parent wants their child to miss too much school because of said sickness, either! While things happen, and everyone gets sick once in a while, employing these illness prevention tips can help you and your kids enjoy a happier, healthier winter season.
 
-Load up on the ‘fight’amins. While it’s vital that your child get proper nutrition throughout the year, it is especially important during cold and flu season. Make sure that your child is getting enough vitamins, Vitamin D especially, as Vitamin D levels tend to dip in the winter.

-Wash hands regularly. Encourage your child to wash hands regularly throughout the day, and especially before and after touching food. Investing in a small bottle of hand sanitizer for emergencies is not a bad idea either. Buy one that can easily strap onto your child’s backpack.
 
-Stop the spread of germs. Close-quarter environments like your child’s school are petri dishes for bacteria. Teach your child the best practices for avoiding germs, such as not touching their face, not putting their hand to their mouth or nose, washing hands after interacting with bacteria-prone objects and places such as doorknobs and bathrooms, etc.
 
 -Get a flu shot. It is very important that you take your children to get a flu shot. The flu, otherwise known as influenza, is much more dangerous for children than adults—especially so for children under the age of 5. In fact, each year 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized because of complications from influenza, and there are between 40 and 180 pediatric deaths caused by it each year.   The single best way to protect your children against seasonal flu is to get them vaccinated each year. The seasonal flu vaccine provides protection against the most common influenza viruses that research predicts will be most prevalent in that given year. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children 6 months of age and older get a seasonal flu vaccine. Contact your CapPed doctor if you have any questions about the flu vaccine.
 
Additional Information
http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/winter_safety
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/
https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/children.htm
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM143453.pdf