AIBU to ask what helps a seven-year-old with severe hay fever?

[Feelfat]

My 7 year old suffers from hay fever very severely every year since he was a toddler. I e given him anti-histamine, what else can I do to help him? Is there anything that actually works? Please any suggestions are welcome

Nasal sprays, eye drops, preventative measures such as wearing sunglasses when outside, washing face after being out, not hanging washing outside so it doesn't pick up pollen.

Have a look at https://www.allergyuk.org/information-and-support/support-for-your-child/allergy-in-childhood/

You can also speak to pharmacist as they may be able to suggest different antihistamines.

Have you tried a nasal spray? Speak to your pharmacist or GP, they can prescribe and it works better than antihistamine for some people. When is the hay fever at it's worst? I find keeping bedroom window closed on hot days until the evening helps and having a shower and changing clothes after being outdoors to remove pollen.

DD has chronic hayfever and uses a range of things to help. Nasal spray works far better for her than tablets. Washing her face as a PP suggested probably provides the most instantaneous relief and it really helped her, particularly at school when she got in from play time.

I would go to the GP and ask for stronger antihistamines, nasal spray and eye drops that you can get on prescription.

If you can afford it - installing air conditioning in his room. It means you can keep the window closed and also acts as an air purifier/filter.

This , 100%. GP prescribed stronger meds for my child than we could buy over the counter

The best thing you can do is try and provide a pollen free environment if he is having max dose of anti histamines, nasal spreays, eye drops etc.

if he's come in from school he needs a shower and hair wash. Fresh clothes that have been dried indoors, bedlinen that hasnt been line dried. Bedroom window closed. Bedroom door closed.

Its really shitty. I would make sure that the gp knows how much he suffers and whether he is on the best antihistamine and the max dose. Fexofendaine is an actual game changer but I dont know if children as young as 7 can take it. I would be asking the gp if he can. Also different antihistamines have different effects. Some are more instant, some are longer relief. I always preferred Cetirizine to piriton. But my mate prefers piriton to cetirizine! So some of it is trial and error. Both piriton and cetirizine are rubbish compared to fexo tho.

Dont underestimate how exhausting fighting a pollen allergy can leave you. So if he needs to rest, go with it!

Definitely face and hand washing - this is the thing that helps me the most after medication. Also changing clothes to something that hasn't been worn outside.

I agree with others that if you have tried all OTC options then you need to go to the GP.

DS is on a prescription only antihistamine as none of the over the counter ones work for him.

My dd was on a child dose of Fexofenadine from 7 (plus eye drops), it made a big difference. OTC antihistamines for kids didn’t work for her.

I also keep her bedroom door and windows shut all day with the air purifier running on high. So when she gets home and showers, there is one room which is a pollen free haven, and also it helps her sleep better.

We use Zyrtec liquid

• mosquito pollen nets on his bedroom windows to reduce pollen coming in open windows.
• Air purifier in bedroom
• wash face and hands after outside. Also change all clothes if bad pollen or grass has been cut.

We have also been told he can have pollen desensitising treatment ( but we are on food allergy treatment atm, so can’t do both together - he’s 5). So 7 year old should be eligible

My DH has a severe pollen allergy. He uses sprays, tablets, eye drops etc, but what seems to work best for him, it a smear of Vaseline inside his nostrils. May be worth a try?
Also a teaspoon of local honey a day may help build up resistance.

I had severe hayfever that has been successfully treated with oralair. I live abroad so this was available on the health service. If antihistamines+spray+eye drops don’t make enough of a difference maybe ask your GP about immunotherapy?