Dust off your bikes, pull the basketball goals out of the garage, and hit the playground for your next play date.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like spring, or something close to it.

And as Mid-Southerners grow accustomed to warmer weather, they also prepare for another sure thing of the new season: sneezing, itchy noses and hay fever.

Welcome to spring, and all that comes with it.

It is a season Michael Blaiss, MD, is well acquainted with, as a pediatric allergist who treats children for conditions like asthma, nasal allergies, eczema, and food allergies.

What he has to say about seasonal allergies, the Mid-South region, and a new tendency toward year-round conditions might surprise you.

Seasonal problems
One misconception Mid-Southerners have about allergies is that they are worse here than in other places, Blaiss said. In fact, allergies in general are pretty common across the country – with 20-25% children suffering from allergies.

That’s because Americans spend so much time indoors and universally can carry allergies associated with carpet, dust mites, mold and pets.

Still, the Mid-South has its fair share of common outside culprits that can cause allergies, Blaiss said.

In the spring, pecan and oak trees are the main problems. Late spring and early summer brings issues with Bermuda, Johnson and Timothy grasses. And in the fall, Ragweed is out to get you.

And then, there’s outdoor mold.

“Memphis has high humidity most of the year, so there is a problem with outdoor mold,” Blaiss said.

Staying comfortable
For parents who want to make sure their allergy-prone children stay comfortable this season, Blaiss has some recommendations.

“Obviously, you want to keep the windows shut. Don’t dry clothing outside, pollen collects out there,” Blaiss said.

When parents work in the yard, they should also shower once they come inside, so that pollen isn’t tracked into the house.

“If you can limit exposure outside in the late afternoon hours when pollen in the air is highest that can help,” Blaiss added. “But you don’t want to limit the child’s ability to go outside and play.”

Over-the-counter antihistamines, prescription drugs from your pediatrician and even a referral to a board-certified allergist can help fix problems and make children more comfortable.

“The purpose of treating a child with allergies is so they can be a normal child doing sports and other activities,” Blaiss said. “We don’t want them in front of the TV all day.”

Finding a cause
Another misconception about allergies is that they don’t develop until children are 3-5 years old. In fact, Blaiss says his office sees infants with eczema, which in some cases is due to food allergies. And in the first year of age, something as common as a cat in the home can trigger asthma.

Much of what causes allergies can be attributed to genetics, and whether mom and dad suffer from them, Blaiss said. Mix the genetic tendency with the environment, and children may have a higher chance of having an allergy.

“The bottom line is we don’t know why so many children are developing allergies,” Blaiss said. “I tell parents if a child is at high risk, realize that their child could develop allergies.”

Year-round problems
Blaiss has studied allergies in adults and found that more patients are starting to have year-round allergies. It’s a trend he thinks will also show up in children.

“In the majority of children, it is more a year-round problem than seasonal,” Blaiss said. “Some may get worse in certain seasons.”

In fact, allergies can be quite impairing for some children – causing irritability and even affecting how children learn.

“Children who have been misdiagnosed with ADHD may actually have allergies,” Blaiss said.

His advice for parents who suspect their child has an allergy: Take the child to his or her regular pediatrician for a checkup. If needed, the pediatrician can refer the child to a board-certified allergist.