《声音》启明星专刊 VOICES for Daystar Academy VOICES Spring/Summer Edition 2019 | Page 33

HEALTH CORNER
name of CLARINASE that can help reduce all symptoms.
Talk with your doctor about the benefits and downsides
of the different treatments if possible. The right
treatment for you will depend a lot on your symptoms
and other health problems. It is also important to talk
with your doctor about when and how to use your
medicines.
When should I see a doctor?
If you are not feeling better after trying all the above
OTC medications, you may want to talk with your doctor
for more advice on proper treatment. If you develop
symptoms of asthma, such as difficulty breathing,
wheezing, and a severe cough, I highly recommend that
you see a doctor as soon as possible.
Do you have any advice for children prone to hay
fever?
the nose. This can also help to clear things out if the
nose is very stuffed up. Different devices can be used
to rinse the nose.
●Steroid nose sprays – Steroid nose sprays are the
single best treatment for nose symptoms. If you decide
to try this medicine, you might need to take a nasal
decongestant for a few days first. This will reduce
swelling in the nose and make it easier for the steroid
to get deep into your nose. Steroid nose sprays work
best if you use them every day. They are more effective
than other allergy medicines for congestion and post-
nasal drip. The available brands of steroid nose sprays
in Beijing include NASONEX and FLIXONASE.
●Antihistamines–These medicines help stop itching,
sneezing, and runny nose symptoms. Some antihistamines
can make people feel tired. The available brands of
antihistamines in Beijing include CLARITYNE and XYZAL.
●Decongestants – These medicines can reduce stuffy nose
symptoms. People with certain health problems, such
as high blood pressure, should not take decongestants.
Also, people should not use decongestant nose sprays for
more than three days in a row. Using these nose sprays
for more than three days in a row can make symptoms
worse. The typical brand of decongestant nose spray
in Beijing is DAPHNLIN. There is an oral combination
medication of antihistamine and decongestant, with the
Young children often do not blow their nose but instead
sniff, cough, or clear their throat a lot. If a child’s
throat is itchy, they might make clicking noises as they
try to scratch their throat with their tongue. They might
also get into the habit of breathing through their mouth
because their nose is stuffy.
Because children do not always understand what
allergies are or how they affect people, they sometimes
put up with severe symptoms. This can really affect
their lives. Children with allergies can have trouble
concentrating or doing school work. They can even have
trouble with sports. Your child might not be able to tell
you what is wrong, but you can look for symptoms that
show up at the same time each year or last a long time.
You might also be able to tell that a child has allergies
by the way he or she looks (figure 2).
Seasonal allergy symptoms usually don’t show up in
children until after the age of 2. If your child is younger
than 2 and has these symptoms, talk to his or her doctor
about what might be causing them.
If you want to try over-the-counter medications for your
child, be sure to read the directions carefully. Some
medications are not safe for young children.
Dr. Lucy Gao is BJU’s Section Chief of the Department of Family Medicine. She is
also an Internal Medicine Physician and Nephrologist. Dr. Gao speaks Mandarin and
English.
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