DS has developed hayfever and I'm not sure how to manage it. Any tips, best websites?

[meglet]

6yo DS has carried an epi-pen for a few years so I'm 'fine' with his food allergies. ie; check ingredients, don't go on playdates, sit with baited breath when we eat out just in case something has got into his meal. But so far he's never had a reaction so far and it feels manageable evern though I worry all the time.

Now he's developed hayfever and is having a rotten time during break times at school, they have lots of trees on site so he can't avoid the pollen. He rarely has a problem at home as we obviously don't have certain trees near our house. The paediatric allergy team said to give him his antihistamine every morning when it's hayfever season and the school are happy to give him some in the middle of the day.

Do I need to tell him to wear wraparound sunglasses at breaktime and wash his hands when he gets in from playtime? Should he wear a different t-shirt at playtimes to stop the pollen sticking to his clothes, or is changing as soon as he gets home and showering every evening ok?

Hayfever seems less serious than his food allergies but less controllable IYSWIM .

[meglet]

oh, and I know which plants / trees trigger his allergies as the hospital have carried out skin prick tests.

[notapizzaeater]

We just give ds a Zirtek every morning and tbh it "cures" his for he day. If its really high pollen we send in eye drops for after playtime.

[MousyMouse]

I would take him to the gp, just because he has other allergies.

my dc is fine with over/the/counter cetrizine one tablet a day. you can also get a liquid if that is easier for him.
read the leaflet as some people get tiredness as side effect, but there are other anti-histamines you could try.

[meglet]

I didn't know about eye-drops.

He has been prescribed cetrizine from the hospital and we have to carry it around anyway as it's part of his allergy kit. Although the tablets sound easier as I always spill the sodding watery cetrizine.

mousy I was going to speak to the allergy team at the hospital next weekm they're back on Weds. I just want to be armed with more info. I've never dealt with hayfever before. I can control his food allergies but I can't stop the wind blowing.

[MousyMouse]

other things that help my dc

• washing hair before bed
  
• not undressing/dressing in bedroom
  
• only air the bedroom after when there is not muc pollen around/ i.e after rain

[MousyMouse]

oh, and a cold flannel for his eyes when extra itchy