6 Ways to Prevent an Allergic Reaction

Over the past 30 years, there's been a worldwide increase in all kinds of allergies, and everything from air pollution and climate change to the overuse of antibiotics has been implicated. Researchers don't fully understand why some substances trigger allergies and others don't, or why some people are highly allergic and others are symptom-free. Read on to learn more about asthma and allergies, if your symptoms match up, and how to treat them.

Check the pollen counts—the amount of pollen in the air at any given time—on TV or the radio or at pollen.com so you can plan your child's outside activities accordingly. (Pollen counts are highest at dusk.)

If your child does play outside, it's best to change her clothes as soon as she comes in.

Make sure to mow your lawn regularly to limit pollen that comes from grass.

Keep windows closed to prevent any extra pollen from getting in the house.

Use an air conditioner instead of a fan when pollen counts are high.

Avoid drying clothes outside during high pollen season.