What do you use for hayfever?

[heliumballoons]

DS has been on cetirizine for over a week.

Keeps losing voice and took him to GP last week and his chest fine, SATS 98%, no inflammation in ears/throat so agreed hayfever - he has been like this for 2 weeks hence starting AH.

Eyes very puffy so went to pharmacy today and asked if they thought a saline nasal spray would help? Pharmacist took 1 look at DS and said 'I'd try anti-histamines, that looks like allergy.'

Said he's on cetirizine and has puriton/epi-pen for reactions but I want to try and get rid of the puffiness.

Got saline nasal spray and allergy eye drops to try.

Any other suggestions? I'm worried someone will think I'm beating him as he's sporting 2 black eyes.

Elderflower cordial and sunglasses, nothing else.

Where can I get elderflower cordial? (supermarkets?).

I would love to put DS in sunglasses but he wears glasses. I wonder if optition would prescibe reactor lights as a medical necessilty?

Yes, the supermarket, a glass of squash in the morning. Glasses will do rather then sunglasses, they just stop the pollen from getting into the eyes, nothing to do with the light. Vaseline around his nostrils will trap the pollen and stop most of it going up his nose aswell.

I have used some tissue salt remedies by New Era in the past when AHs have needed a boost. They're sold in Boots I think.

Honey is supposed to help too. Something about desensitising to pollen I think. Some people say it has to be local honey and others that it doesn't matter and any honey will do. I saw someone on Twitter raving about Manuka honey the other day too - maybe something to do with the antiseptic qualities?

If his eyes are sore, maybe just cool packs or cucumber to help reduce the swelling?

Remeber when out to stay in the sun too...pollen sinks and settles in the shade.

blathers I'ver never heard of that -thanks.

Not sure DS will agree as the sun is giving him hives - guess its more a case of what will bother him most. Kept him in with windows shut today as very windy.

I have an air purifier thingy which is really good. It was from Lloyds and you could get one of those nose laser things with it on a deal.

Also keep windows/doors shut in the house. Shower/bath often. Damp cloth over eyes when they get puffy is helpful.

Local honey - or as local as you can get.
Bit late to start but worth a go - really does help.

Thanks. Interesting about reflux. I have it intermittedly and take omeprezole when bad. DS has very irregular bowels (from twive a week to sometimes 3/4) I always just put it down to the other problems as he has a healthy diet and plenty of fruit/veg/fluids.

Mindyou his voice has been fine since yesterday am when I kept him in and used saline spray last night. - so heres hoping.

Yes allergic shiners is definatly it - thats probably why the pharmacist recognised it as allergy from a mile off. Good to know theres a name for it.

Try Haymax. It's been great for me and my family. Just rub it on the bottom of the nose - very easy and works really well.

I would watch his behaviour on cetrizine, my DS had it last year and it affected his sleep, made him irritable, fidgety and very angry. These are all apparently known side effects that they don't tell you about, nearly got suspended from school for punching another child, but school knew it was very out of character and suggested we change his allergy medicine as they had heard of the side effects now on lotradine and is fine.

If his eyes are bad, have you thought about eye drops? Not sure how old he is, so what he can take. I'm firmly in the anti-woo camp, so I raise a big to homeopathy etc, incl. tissue salts.

Also, try putting a bed spread over his bed in the day. Carefully remove it just before going to sleep, that will make sure no pollen has settled on his pillow etc.

Try splashing face and brushing out hair (again to remove pollen) after he's been playing outside for a while.

Hoover lots - gets rid of that pollen...

The sore throat could also be post nasal drip?

Bloody pollen.

Not convinced that saline nasal spray will be helpful in preventing allergy symptoms. I would see your GP regarding one of the new steroid nasal sprays (more effective and less absorbed systemically). Mometasone is one (aka Nasonex) but there is also a new one out that claims to treat both eye and nose symptoms (helpfully, I can't remember the name. Will rack brain). However, I don't know which ones are licensed for children. As bellede.. said, Vaseline inside nostrils and on eyelashes helps trap the pollen to stop it getting there - limited but still helpful. You can also try other antihistamines, including the much maligned Piriton (it can make some people drowsy but never found it does to me or my DC worse luck )