Breathe Easy on Halloween Night

Allergies and asthma can turn the treat of celebrating Halloween into an unpleasant trick.

Face paints, candy and other foods all may pose potential health hazards for children who have allergies and asthma, warn doctors and nurses at National Jewish Medical and Research Center. They offer some suggestions on how parents can ensure their children have a happy and safe Halloween.

Instruct your children not to sample any candy or other food while they're out trick-or-treating. They should bring their trick-or-treat bags home so that you can check for any ingredients that might cause an allergic reaction. If the treat doesn't have a label, children with food allergies shouldn't eat it.

Parents also need to remember that grease or face paints can cause problems for children who have sensitive skin.

"Hypoallergenic face paints are the best. If the child has eczema, chronic red and itchy skin, avoid face and grease paint altogether," nurse Ann Rosenwasser says in a prepared statement.

"I always like to make sure that the paints wash off easily, too," adds nurse Epi Mazzei. "Also, with colored hair spray, which my kids use, make sure you don't spray toward the face, and use it in a well-ventilated area because it can be very irritating for the eyes and respiratory tract."

The excitement of Halloween can trigger an asthma attack in some children. Other asthma triggers include cool air and dust that could be kicked up if it's a windy night while children are out trick-or-treating.

If children face these potential triggers on Halloween, Mazzei suggests parents check with a doctor about giving children asthma medication before they head out for their night of ghoulish fun.

More information

Here's where you can find more Halloween safety tips.

Reference Source 101

For more information on how to prevent other diseases, use
PreventDisease.com's "Quick Prevention Resources".