Terrible hay fever in 9yo what on earth do I do

[pinkjeanbea]

Unfortunately moving is not an option but of course we live smack bang in the middle of the countryside with seemingly every type of pollen going

My poor 9yo is affected so badly, I hate the idea of constantly giving her antihistamines but so far it's all I feel I can do. Her eyes stream and go red, she sniffs all day and walks around with a packet of tissues constantly. I don't care having to pay or do anything to stop her suffering, halting the incessant sniffing would also be delightful!
I have no allergies so really not sure what I'm doing. Any ideas gratefully received!

I had awful hay fever through childhood and my young adult life. I felt exhausted and dehydrated for months on end and absolutely dreaded the summer.That was with available treatments. One can't lead a normal life and avoid pollen or , for that matter irritants such as exhaust fumes that can exacerbate the symptoms.I totally agree with taking all non pharmaceutical measures eg sunglasses, washing hands and face after being in the garden, changing clothes after being outside, staying in if thunder threatening etc . The honey thing has sadly been debunked.You are not being logical however in allowing your child's immune system to be in overdrive for the sake of safe medication. Every year ,note when symptoms start and start regular treatment a week or so earlier to get on top of it. This might mean a steroid nasal spray alone or spray plus antihistamine or spray plus antihistamine plus eye drops ... there are further steps.It is not likely that your DC will 'grow out' of hay fever although moving to an area with allergens they haven't been exposed to as much might help a bit. In a few years there will be public exams to consider so good management will help him there as well as, obviously, the more important issue of his health and well being.

Thanks for all the help. I am clocking off the thread now but to clarify nowhere did I write I wasn't giving my dc antihistamines I wrote I was uncomfortable giving drugs to my dc on a daily basis and was looking for alternatives.

Not sure what parent is happy and comfortable that their dc has to take drugs every day even when it literally saves their lives but there you go. And yes I would always look for an alternative to drugs,

The incessant sniffing exists after giving piriton but many of the posts here have explained why that may be the case as there are superior antihistamines out there.

Good luck with it. There are treatments out there that help. I’ve had hayfever for years and I’ve learned things in this thread that I didn’t know. If you are dealing with it for the first time obviously you don’t know stuff. And I agree some of the comments were uncalled for.

thing with allergies is that the only thing working other than taking medicine is to avoid the allergens.

'easy' (well, not easy but easier) with other allergens. you can rehome a pet or not eat nuts but pollen are everywhere.

good luck @pinkjeanbea
it's good to look at a problem from different angles.
your dc will feel much better with medication and reduction of allergens indoors

Not sure what parent is happy and comfortable that their dc has to take drugs every day even when it literally saves their lives but there you go.

I’m not especially happy or comfortable that my DC has a chronic health condition but I feel very happy, comfortable, and genuinely privileged that we live in a time and a place where he can access safe daily medication for free.

Caring for a child with a chronic health condition means re-examining your mindset and many of your previous prejudices. I wish you good luck and hope your DD finds relief soon.

Sorry to reactivate this thread but my DD12 started suffering with this a couple of weeks ago mainly mornings and evenings but the last 2 days have been bad with sneezing, block and runny nose and sometimes nose bleed. I gave her loratadine today but didn’t completely relieved her from the symptoms.

I just bought Fexofenadine and will give it to her tomorrow; my question is how long do I give it to her for? June, July. ? Do i check the pollen?

Is this a problem only in the UK? I grew up in the tropics and never heard of it.

It is impossible to close windows as it gets very hot in the house.

I hate winter but praying for rain and winter now as I hate seeing her suffer. Probably doesn’t help that her new school is near the woods; but it is also bad in the house.

It takes a few days for an aniltihistamine to build up to full effectiveness, so give each one a trial for a week before changing.

If it's just started it's probably grass pollen, so should start to ease off in August (the alternative is weed pollen, in which case it will last to September).

If you can't keep windows constantly closed, at least have them closed first thing in the morning and from about 7pm to dusk, when pollen is moving around most. Dry bedding (and ideally clothes) indoors. Wash face after being outside, and ideally rinse hair in the evening (if that's not feaisble, keep it tied back).

Thank you, will continue with the Loratadine and close the windows in the morning until around 10am? And from 7pm. Get her to wash her hair everyday, wash clothes and bedding, put vaseline around her nose.

We went for a walk yesterday and told me she thought it was the grass. I hope it improves soon as she has a sport day on Tuesday.

I also read about salt caves? Wondering if it is safe/good? And also about the injections? But if it only for a couple of months in the year perhaps she doesn’t need it. Hopefully the Loratadine will start working soon.

@Thinkerbell78 - it is miserable so I feel for your DD. I was the same at her age especially with grass. My parents just always thought I had a cold though - so no medication.

Talk to a pharmacist but I think she can take a nasal spray as well as the Loratadine. I’m taking Allevia (Fexofenadine) at night and a nasal spray and eye drops in the morning. The combination has really helped me this year. I have been taking it all since February as I’m allergic all year round but this year I have been the best I’ve ever been with that combination. You do need to be consistent with taking the medication and it takes time to build up in the system so don’t discount it not working straight away. With the combination I’m using I can dry clothes outside, cut the grass, etc etc and no miserable sneezing.

I mentioned this earlier on the thread, but one thing that can be very helpful is nasal rinsing. Pollen clings to the small hairs in your nose just as it clings to clothes and hair, and my DC with allergies benefited hugely from doing this.

I think Sterimar sells an already made up spray, which is more expensive than mixing your own (and creates more waste), but might be worth trying if you want to see if it makes a difference for her? If you do make up you own, it's important to use either water that has been boiled for 5 minutes and cooled or distilled water so as to avoid introducing harmful bacteria.

That plus an air purifier in the bedroom were really helpful.

There's a Boots own brand saline nasal spray - cheaper than Sterimar.