Hay fever
Hay fever is a common allergic reaction to pollen from grass, trees and weeds. Symptoms are most common from spring until autumn.
Symptoms change depending on the weather and the pollen count.
Symptoms include:
- Itchy, watery eyes
- itchy throat
- sneezing and coughing
- runny or blocked nose
- heacache
- feeling tired
If your child has asthma, they may also have a tight feeling in their chest, be short of breath, and have a wheeze or cough.
Top tips to manage your child's hay fever
There is no cure for hay fever, but there are things you can do to reduce your child’s symptoms when the pollen count is high.
- Keep windows and doors shut
- Stay indoors when possible
- Shower and change clothes after they have been outside to wash pollen off
- Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth
- Put barrier balm, for example Vaseline, around their nostrils to trap pollen
- Wear wrap around sunglasses to stop pollen getting in their eyes
- Make sure the house is smoke-free
- Don’t walk on grass
- Don’t have fresh flowers in the house
- Don’t dry clothes outside. They can carry pollen indoors
- Don’t let pets into the house if possible. They can carry pollen indoors
Hay fever medicines
Medicines for hay fever control the symptoms but do not cure it.
There are 3 types of medicines which can treat hayfever. The choice of medicine for your child will depend on their age and symptoms.
- Antihistamine medicines. There are antihistamines which make people feel sleepy, for example chlorphenamine. There are antihistamines which are non drowsy and less likely to make people feel sleepy, for example cetirizine and loratidine.
- Nasal sprays
- Eye drops
Speak to your local community pharmacist about hay fever. They can give advice and suggest the best treatment.
If your child has any of the following:
- Tightness in the chest or throat
- Swelling of the mouth, face, tongue, lips or throat
- Difficulty swallowing or speaking
- Hoarse voice
- Harsh noise as they breathe in (stridor)
- Wheezing
- Persistent coughing
- Has laboured, rapid breathing or they are working hard to breathe, drawing in of the muscles below their lower ribs, at their neck or between their ribs (recession)
- Dizziness, fainting episode or collapse
- Pale or floppy
You need urgent help.
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999
If your child has any of the following:
- Runny nose or eyes
- Itchy skin or a raised rash (hives)
- Tingling mouth
- Sneezing
Contact your pharmacist.
If these symptoms do not improve with over the counter treatments from the pharmacy, contact your GP.
If your child has any of the following:
- Runny nose or eyes
- Itchy skin or rasied rash (hives)
- Tingling mouth
- Sneezing
Self care
Continue providing your child’s care at home. You can speak to your local pharmacist for advice.
Causes of hay fever
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to the fine powder that plants produce, called pollen, usually when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes and throat.
Who can help
Speak to your local pharmacist. They can give advice and suggest the best treatments, like antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays. You can get medicines delivered or ask someone to collect them.
Contact your GP or ring 111 if:
- your symptoms are getting worse
- your symptoms do not improve after taking medicines from the pharmacy
- you may need to visist urgent care if you symtoms do not improve
Please visit these pages for more information on symtoms your child may have: Conjunctivitis, difficulty breathing and wheezing and rashes.
Itchy, sneezy, wheezy has a series of videos on food allergy, anaphylaxis and how to use an epipen
For wear and tear, minor trips and everything in between.
Self-care
You can treat your child's very minor illnesses and injuries at home.
Some illnesses can be treated in your own home with support and advice from the services listed when required, using the recommended medicines and getting plenty of rest.
Sound advice
Children can recover from illness quickly but also can become more poorly quickly; it is important to seek further advice if a child's condition gets worse.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
Pharmacists are experts in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets. You don’t need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.
Sound advice
- Visit a pharmacy if your child is ill, but does not need to see a GP.
- Remember that if your child's condition gets worse, you should seek further medical advice immediately.
- Help your child to understand - watch this video with them about going to the pharmacy.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
Health visitors are nurses or midwives who are passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing illness through the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme. They work with you through your pregnancy up until your child is ready to start school.
Health Visitors can also make referrals for you to other health professionals for example hearing or vision concerns or to the Community Paediatricians or to the child and adolescent mental health services.
Contact them by phoning your Health Visitor Team or local Children’s Centre.
Sound advice
Health visitors also provide advice, support and guidance in caring for your child, including:
- Breastfeeding, weaning and healthy eating
- Exercise, hygiene and safety
- Your child’s growth and development
- Emotional health and wellbeing, including postnatal depression
- Safety in the home
- Stopping smoking
- Contraception and sexual health
- Sleep and behaviour management (including temper tantrums!)
- Toilet training
- Minor illnesses
For more information watch the video: What does a health visitor do?
School nurses care for children and young people, aged 5-19, and their families, to ensure their health needs are supported within their school and community. They work closely with education staff and other agencies to support parents, carers and the children and young people, with physical and/or emotional health needs.
Contacting the School Nurse
Primary and secondary schools have an allocated school nurse – telephone your child’s school to ask for the contact details of your named school nurse.
There is also a specialist nurse who works with families who choose to educate their children at home.
Sound Advice
Before your child starts school your health visitor will meet with the school nursing team to transfer their care to the school nursing service. The school nursing team consists of a school nursing lead, specialist public health practitioners and school health staff nurses.
They all have a role in preventing disease and promoting health and wellbeing, by:-
- encouraging healthier lifestyles
- offering immunisations
- giving information, advice and support to children, young people and their families
- supporting children with complex health needs
Each member of the team has links with many other professionals who also work with children including community paediatricians, child and adolescent mental health teams, health visitors and speech and language therapists. The school health nursing service also forms part of the multi-agency services for children, young people and families where there are child protection or safeguarding issues.
GPs assess, treat and manage a whole range of health problems. They also provide health education, give vaccinations and carry out simple surgical procedures. Your GP will arrange a referral to a hospital specialist should you need it.
Sound advice
You have a choice of service:
- Doctors/GPs can treat many illnesses that do not warrant a visit to A&E.
- Help your child to understand – watch this video with them about visiting the GP or going to a walk in centre
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
If you’re not sure which NHS service you need, call 111. An adviser will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the advice you need, or direct you straightaway to the best service for you in your area.
Sound advice
Use NHS 111 if you are unsure what to do next, have any questions about a condition or treatment or require information about local health services.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
A&E departments provide vital care for life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, suspected heart attacks, breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped. If you’re not sure it’s an emergency, call 111 for advice.
Sound advice
