My daughter aged 13 is constantly blowing nose and sneezing

[Vivdawes]

My 13 year old daughter- who we suspect has ASD, has had lots of mucus and catarrh since about August time. It sometimes seems like a cold and I’m literally trying everything. It seems to be worse near her period. She’s on supplements for teens plus I give her black elderberry to take (supposed to help immune system). She doesn’t do great amounts of exercise and is home educated as she wasn’t coping at school whatsoever so since last June she’s been at home. We go to lessons on Mondays in a small group but I struggle getting her doing much at home some weeks. I appreciate it takes time to get the home education into a good rhythm.
Anyway any thoughts on whether she might have an allergy? She doesn’t have stomach issues so ruled out dairy allergy- just constant mucus and cold symptoms without the headache or shivers.
Cheers 😊

It does sound like it could be an allergic rhinitis sort of thing. If it is an allergy, an anti-histamine would help, so it might be worth trying that so you have a better idea of what you might be dealing with.

More information here:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/allergic-rhinitis/

Thanks

Do you have any pets? My niece used to be like this with cats.

We do but we've had cat for 2 years and these symptoms are only since July/August. Antihistamines don't seem to make a difference as I thought I'd try just in case

Allergies can just appear over time. Also, with home schooling, your DD will presumably be at home more, so greater contact. Timing would fit if she stopped school in June. Try a different kind of antihistamine.

Thank you went to chemist and trying out a different antihistamine. Seeing doctor tomorrow also

I gave my son,who had this issue, Boots own fish oils with multivitamins, the kids version, and his cleared up. It's back again so I need to restock.

I used to do this all the time, we finally found out via That's Life that I was allergic to a food colouring (E102, if memory serves, it was banned subsequent to their investigation) - I drank gallons of orange squash.

So maybe check out allergies.

Does she drink a lot of milk? Milk can cause people to produce more mucus, we had this with DD and cut back on her dairy.

You need a nasal spray for her if it’s allergic rhinitis. I use Nasofan but I’m sure you can buy them over the counter with budesonide in them as well which are also great.
I’d get rid of the cat as well if it is that as no medication is going to counteract a cat allergy. Ask for her to be allergy tested.
I was exactly the same and was made to live in a house of cats and dogs while I was miserable sneezing constantly, couldn’t sleep for it and developed asthma.

I now live with no animals and my asthma and rhinitis is 100% better.

Also even if I take two antihistamine a day and vary the type they make no difference without the nasal spray.

I grew up with cats, but developed an allergy to cats in my teens and now I can’t tolerate being around them for extended periods at all. My symptoms were a constant runny nose and sore, itchy eyes. It wasn’t until I left for college, was fine in my student accommodation, then felt ill again back my mum’s that I put two and two together and worked out the cats were the problem.

She doesn't get the itchy eyes but lots of mucus and sometimes sneezing (and more cold like symptoms when she's due on- which has made me feel it's not an allergy?🤔)
Have cut back on dairy but she has very little milk and currently virtually no cheese and when she does she often has lactose free). Her catarrh is slightly better but still lots of snot.
We couldn't get rid of our pets as she adores them! She's most likely autistic and they're a great comfort to her.
I'm trying the new antihistamine and have nose drops doctor gave her recently. Also trying to get her inhaling steam with olbas in it.
Eventually we'll get to the root.

I could have written this OP apart from the fact my DD is 14 not 13.
She has been like it for years and we can not pinpoint the source of it.
She is worse around cats so consequently does not have frequent contact with cats/doesn't stay in houses with cats etc.
We wondered about dogs - but it didn't improve after we lost our pooch last April.

And after a particularly horrible incident in Disneyland Paris a few years ago where she ended up in hospital she had all the tests done for allergies with a possible positive for horses and hay.

But she sneezes 10 times in a row 10 times a day most days...we've counted...

Well would you believe it- gave her the new antihistamine today and about 2 hours ago she seemed so much better- she even got dressed, went downstairs and did some work! So I've ordered an air purifier and will see how we go with the antihistamine. I really hope we've cracked it as poor thing gets so fed up.

My Dd is v dust allergic and. It comes out like this. She’s always had it though - was tested when she was about 8.
Has your dd ever had eczema or other atopic allergy issues?
Try one-a-day allergy relief tablets as they help dd and won’t do harm.

Vaccum a LOT, change the bed at least once a week and buy an air purifier as they have a filter that takes out cat dander and dust. It made me so much better. I used to wake up as snotty as anything with my eyes gummed shut. Antihistamines also had a minimal effect.

If there is any chance at all it’s related to the cats it’s worth trying to keep them out her room. Wash hands after touching them. There’s also something called petal cleanse which you can wipe over the cat to reduce allergens.

We do but we've had cat for 2 years and these symptoms are only since July/August

I developed an allergy to our cat about 18 months after she came to live here. It's miserable.

Antihistamines, keeping her out of my bedroom and keeping on top of the hoovering/damp dusting helps keep it to a dull roar.

Could be a sinus issue, I had something similar about the same age, turned out to be polyps and I had an operation to remove them and clear sinuses and felt so much better for it! I would see your gp and ask for her to be seen by a ear,nose and throat (ent) specialist in case it’s something similar.

We assumed DD had developed all year round hayfever a couple of years ago. It’s only since she headed off to uni in September that we realised it was an allergy to the cat we’ve had for 9 years. So allergies can develop out of the blue. It’s not severe enough to rehome the mog; DD takes antihistamines when home for the hols.

Hormonal changes can effect allergies. I had none until puberty.
I also still have the full on head cold feeling for a couple of days each month before period too.
Strangely during my pregnancies I barely reacted to anything.

A hard thing to diagnose and resolve is allergies. If the doctors don't think it's anything serious its worth having another go at food allergies. I'm in no way trained to advice on this but have personal experience as I've had to work for years through allergy problems. My two rules for trying to work through it is only give up one thing at a time (so you know what's causing the problem) and give up something for at least 3 months to test whether it is effective for your body. A lot of folk try for a month but it doesn't seem to give your body enough time to clear everything out and make all the necessary hormonal and nutrient adjustments. If you feel better after this time then it says something. I've read a lot of stuff on it and foods which seem to come up as causing side affects if you have sensitivities are: Sugar, dairy, wheat, chocolate and fried foods and they can all cause mucus side-effects if the body isn't coping with it. I've heard it's possible to reintroduce things so it doesn't have to be a life sentence (I haven't got there yet as too scared to reignite the symptoms)

Other common allergies for the symptoms are dust (could any soft furnishings, toys, duvets or pillows need a good bashing?) and washing powder, I find baby washing powders help.

It's so worth trying. Good luck and I hope your daughter feels better soon. xx

If she uses aerosol deodorant or body spray then switch to roll on too and if you use any air freshener like plug ins or those annoying ones that spray then get rid for z while. Even scented candles.

Worth a try.

Antihistamine and air purifier working a treat! We don't use any aerosols and rarely scented candles. Happy mummy today and no piles of snotty tissues in every room!

Yay. That’s brilliant.