Symptoms

• Clear nasal discharge with sneezing, sniffing, and itching of nose (100%)
• Eye allergies (itchy, red, watery and puffy) also can occur (70%)
• Ear and sinus congestion or fullness can occur
• Throat can also feel scratchy or have a tickly feeling at times
• Itchy ear canals, itchy skin or hoarse voice sometimes also occur
• Symptoms happen during pollen season
• Same symptoms during the same month of the last year
• Past diagnosis by a doctor is helpful
• No fever

Causes

• Hay fever is an allergic reaction of the nose and sinuses. It is a reaction to an inhaled substance (called an allergen). Most often, this is a pollen.
• Grass, trees, weeds and molds are the most common pollens.
• Allergens can also be from cats, dogs, horses, rabbits and other animals.

1. What You Should Know:
   • Hay fever is very common. It happens in about 15% of children.
   • Nose and eye symptoms can be controlled by giving allergy medicines.
   • Pollens are in the air every day during pollen season. So, allergy meds must be given daily. They need to used for 2 months or longer during pollen season.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Allergy Medicines:  
   • Allergy medicines are called antihistamines. They are the drug of choice for nasal allergies.
   • They will help control the symptoms. These include a runny nose, nasal itching and sneezing.
   • Benadryl or Chlorpheniramine (CTM) products are helpful. No prescription is needed. They need to be given every 6 to 8 hours. See Dose Tables.
   • The bedtime dosage is especially important for healing the lining of the nose.
   • The key to control is to give allergy meds every day during pollen season.
3. Cetirizine (Zyrtec) or Loratadine (Claritin):
   • Loratadine and Cetirizine are long-acting allergy medicines. No prescription is needed.
   • Advantage: Causes less sedation than older allergy meds such as Benadryl and chlorpheniramine. They are long-acting and last up to 24 hours.
   • Dose:
   • AGE 2- 6 years old, discuss with your child's doctor. If approved, give 2.5 mg (2.5 ml or 1/2 teaspoon) of liquid syrup. Use once daily in the morning.
   • AGE 6-12 years old, give 5 mg chewable tablet once daily in morning.
   • AGE: 12 years and older, give 10 mg tablet once daily in morning.
   • Downside: Doesn't control hay fever symptoms as well as older allergy medicines. Also, sometimes will have breakthrough symptoms before 24 hours. If that happens, you can give a single dose of Benadryl or CTM.
   • Cost: Ask the pharmacist for a store brand. Reason: Costs less than Claritin or Zyrtec brand.
4. Nasal Washes to Wash Out Pollen:
   • Use saline nose drops or spray. This helps to wash out pollen or to loosen up dried mucus. If you don't have saline, you can use warm tap water.
   • STEP 1: Put 3 drops in each nostril.
   • STEP 2: Blow each nostril out while closing off the other nostril. Then, do the other side.
   • STEP 3: Repeat nose drops and blowing until the discharge is clear.
   • How often: Do nasal washes when your child can't breathe through the nose. Also, do them if the nose is very itchy.
   • Saline nose drops or spray can be bought in any drugstore. No prescription is needed.
   • Saline nose drops can also be made at home. Use 1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) of table salt. Stir the salt into 1 cup (8 ounces or 240 ml) of warm water.
   • Other option: Use a warm shower to loosen mucus. Breathe in the moist air, then blow each nostril.
5. Eye Allergies:  
   • For eye symptoms, wash off the face and eyelids. This will remove pollen or any other allergic substances.
   • Then put a cold wet washcloth on the eyes.
   • Most often, an allergy medicine given by mouth will help the eye symptoms. Sometimes, eye drops are also needed.
   • Antihistamine Eye Drops - Ketotifen (1st Choice):
   • Ketotifen eye drops are a safe and effective product. Examples are Zaditor or Alaway. No prescription is needed.
   • Dose: 1 drop every 12 hours.
   • For severe allergies, use ketotifen eyedrops every day during pollen season. This will give the best control.
   • Antihistamine/Vasoconstrictive Eyedrops (2nd Choice):
   • Dose: 1 drop every 8 hours
   • Ask your pharmacist to suggest a brand. Some brand names are Naphcon A, Opcon A, or Visine A.
   • Do not use for over 5 days. (Reason: Will cause red eyes from rebound effect).
   • Downside: Doesn't work as well as Ketotifen eye drops.
6. Wash Pollen Off Body:
   • Remove pollen from the hair and skin with shampoo and a shower. This is especially important before bedtime.
7. What to Expect:
   • Since pollen allergies recur each year, learn to control the symptoms.
8. Pollen - How to Reduce the Pollen Your Child Breathes:
   • Pollen is carried in the air.
   • Keep windows closed in the home, at least in your child's bedroom.
   • Keep windows closed in car. Turn the air conditioner on recirculate.
   • Avoid window fans or attic fans. They pull in pollen.
   • Try to stay indoors on windy days. Reason: The pollen count is much higher when it's dry and windy.
   • Avoid playing with the outdoor dog. Reason: Pollen collects in the fur.
   • Pollen Count: You can get your daily pollen count from www.pollen.com.
     Just type in your zip code.
9. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Symptoms are not better in 2 days after starting allergy medicine
   • Your child becomes worse