Hay fever

• email
• save PDF
• print

What causes it?

Children who get hay fever suffer most during the season when the pollen count in the air reaches its peak, just before summer. Rye grass pollen in particular seems to be the worst offender. These pollens are tiny particles which are breathed in and cause irritation of the delicate lining of the eyes, sinuses and nasal passages. Children of parents who suffer from allergy have a greater chance of developing hay fever themselves.

What are the symptoms?

Sniffling, runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes, nose, roof of the mouth and back of the throat are the most common complaints of hay fever sufferers. Eyes may also water profusely and become red and sore.

While hay fever is usually considered a minor complaint, those children with it are highly sensitive to pollens, and can develop other allergic conditions, such as hives, rashes and asthma.

Is there a test?

Sometimes specific allergy testing may be useful, to help identify the substances which are causing the hay fever and which need to be avoided. These tests are performed by an allergist. However, they are often of limited usefulness because the results rarely influence the treatment that is given.

How is it treated?

Hay fever cannot be cured, but there are a number of ways you can improve the symptoms and give your child some relief. Preventive measures play an important role in the treatment of hay fever.

Your doctor may suggest you use antihistamines to help relieve your child’s symptoms. These are tablets or mixtures which damp down the allergic response seen in hay fever. The newer types of antihistamines do not cause drowsiness. Steroid nasal sprays are used to prevent an allergic reaction. They can be safely used for 2-3 months, during the hay fever season. Decongestant nose drops and sprays need to be used with caution. With prolonged use they can cause permanent damage to the lining of the nose. This is because they decrease swelling by narrowing down the local blood vessels.

How can I prevent it?

Try to avoid direct exposure to pollens during late spring and early summer. Expect your child to have worse symptoms if they are playing outside.

• Rated3 ratingsRate this item
• FeedbackTell us what you think of this item