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Allergens can haunt your child year-round, and Halloween is no exception.
Christa Easley, Ph.D., of Austin Clinical Research Inc. in Texas, says kids should watch out for seasonal allergens while trick-or-treating or participating in other Halloween activities.

“There are still a lot of outdoor allergens around that time [Halloween],” Easley said. Depending on where you live, seasonal allergens common around Halloween include mold, ragweed, and pollen from weeds, grasses and trees.

Also, cold night air and exertion on Halloween can cause some kids to suffer asthma attacks, according to Dr. Michelle Lierl, associate professor of clinical pediatrics in the Pulmonary Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Division at Children?s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati.

Follow these tips to help prevent asthma and other allergy attacks on Halloween:

Pretreat — The Canadian Medical Association suggests pretreating if you know that cold air causes asthma flare-ups. Giving your child medication before heading outdoors to trick-or-treat may deter some reactions.
Stay on the sidewalks — “When they run through yards, kids kick leaves up in the air and stir up molds,” Lierl said. If your child has allergies, this can trigger a reaction.

Walk, don’t run — “Kids get excited when they’re trick-or-treating and they run from house to house,” Lierl said. Such exertion can lead to an asthma attack. Tell your kids to slow it down to avoid exercise-induced allergy and asthma attacks.

Watch those haunted houses — Basements, garages, crawl spaces and barns are breeding grounds for some allergens, such as mold. If your child is heading to a haunted house this Halloween, find out if it is in a site likely to be high in allergens.

Dress warmly — Halloween falls on the last day of October, and in most parts of the country, the weather likely will be cool. “Breathing in the cold air can trigger wheezing,” Leirl said. She suggests wearing a muffler or cap to keep warm. Kids can incorporate such accessories into many costumes.
No black cats — Children attending Halloween parties and holiday festivities in other people’s homes may be exposed to a variety of pets, from hamsters to dogs to the infamous black cat. “Children who have pet allergies walk into a house and immediately start breathing in the air, and this can lead to a reaction,” Lierl said. She notes that cats can cause the most severe and immediate reactions. “Cat allergies are the worst,” she said, “because cat dander hangs in the air, even if the cat is not still in the house.”

Parents should make sure that they educate their kids on what to do if they suffer an allergy or asthma attack. Carry the proper medications as well as contact numbers no matter where your child is heading this Halloween.