Hayfever in toddler

[Hulababy]

I think DD (just turned 2) has hayfever. Thought it might be the case last year a bit, but this year seems a bit worse - itchy eyes, runny nose, dry throat, etc.

Anyone else's little ones suffering with it? And if so, what do you give for relief?

I am going to nip to Boots later on but so far can only think of getting her infant piriton syrup. But will that not just make her drowsy as well?

Any advice? Thanks!

Hulababy - Yes, the Piriton will make her sleepy so only give her it at bedtime. I take the infant Piriton at the moment coz I'm pregnant, and if I take 10ml it knocks me out, but if I take it at about 10pm the Antihistamine effect lasts most of the next day too.

Most (if not all) of Childrens Antihistamines will make them drowsy. Would she let you put drops in her eyes? Actually, on 2nd thoughts, I remember beign given drops as a child and I used rub my eyes for a good 10mins afterwards, which of course aggravated the problem!

Your best bet is to go to your GP. As children. My sister and I were given loads of different combinations of treatments before finding ones that suited.

It's horrible and I have much sympathy for her.

THanks toothache. Thouight about GP but I know what our surgery is like - takes over a week for an appointment - will phone later and make her one for end of next week!!! But need something in mean time. So I'll try the piriton at night time and see how it goes - thanks.

We give ds zyrtec (long story, it's hopefully to prevent him getting asthma) and it's long lasting and non drowsy. It is also a flavour he seems to be keen to take. I'm not sure if it will prevent asthma, but it's a breeze to give him and does not turn him into a space cadet.

I would have thought that there was no point giving a hayfever drug at night - surely you need one you can give during the day so you get the benefit when she is running around in fields or whatever.

Is zrytec prescription only?

I will ask pharmicist for advise too. Normally they are as good as seeing GP anyway!

Hi Hula, I've been wondering if dd has some hayfever too but then I wasn't sure what age it's likely to start? She's also been sneezing a bit and rubbing her eyes til they're v. red. Any idea when it does officially start in children?

It's just pharmacy medicine here, in fact it can't be prescribed because it's not funded in NZ. In the US it can be used from 6 months so your dd should be fine at 2 years old.

I think DD has always had it. Even as a baby the first year she was more sniffly in summer. Last year her nose was always going. This year eyes seem affected and throat too.

DS, 2, has quite severe hayfever. We use Benedryl during the day, and Piriton at night. IMO Piriton is more effective, and is worth it if they get really bad in the day. It IS worth giving them anti-histamine at night because that's when the coughing symptoms seem to set in, and eye swelling.
Try to avoid letting her sit under trees, or being outdoors after teatime, when the pollen starts to sink to ground level. Sunglasses and a small amount of vaseline just inside the nostrils can help too.

Aaaaargh HAYFEVER IS HORRIBLE.

Thanks Blu

I was thinking of sunglasses. I saw some tiny ones in Gap this weekend. Wonder if she'll keep them on

Toddlerbob - Just to echo what Blu has said, the point about taking it at night is: A - It helps you sleep as its very difficult to when you are bunged up, coughing and itchy.....

and B - I said I noticed the anti-histamine effect of Infant Piriton lasts faaaaaaar longer than the drowsiness. So it helps for most of the day too.

I get Zirtec or Neo-Clarytin on prescription when I'm not pregnant (for Hay Fever, Food Allergies and Allergy triggered asthma). The problem with buying it over the counter in the UK is that it's Very expensive. In tablet form its about £5 or £6 for 7 tablets!! So I still think you're probably best to try Piriton just until you can get a prescription for something else.

Evita - They are reluctant to diagnose any such Allergies until that are over 12mths old. But that doesn't mean they won't suffer.... just seems to be the GP's won't commit to it at that age as their immune systems aren't fully developed.

Blimey that's dear. I pay about 7 pounds for 150ml of syrup (a dose is between 2.5 and 5 ml).

Pharmacist gave me Boots own allergy and hayfever syrup. Supposed to last 24 hours and is non-drowsy, unlike piriton. For children aged 2 plus. Will see how it goes.

My 4 year old has just been diagnosed with hayfever...quite severe. I used piriton until got to gp which helped a little. Gp then gave some drops for 7 days..which calmed it down more. but had to return again & now been given some clarytin(Sp??) medicine which he has to take each morning. As on prescription it was free.First dose was today & the improvment is remarkable!

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