Hay fever season is approaching!
by Ms Brooke Jones, School Nurse
Seasonal allergies are sometimes called ‘hay fever’. Hay fever is the common name for a condition called allergic rhinitis, which means an allergy that mainly affects the nose. However, hay fever can also affect your eyes, throat, sinuses and ears.
Victorians are currently being warned a warm and sunny spring ahead will bring with it a high pollen count and an extreme hay fever risk. This usually occurs between September and March.
Signs and symptoms of hay fever
- frequent bouts of sneezing
- a runny nose
- blocked nose
- itchy ears, nose, throat and roof of mouth
- red, itchy, swollen and/or watery eyes
- headaches.
If hay fever is left untreated it can:
- lead to poor quality sleep, tiredness, daytime sleepiness
- make asthma more difficult to control
- increase the chance of sinus infections
- affect your child’s learning and performance
- lead to a husky voice and/or a sore throat
- cause more frequent eye infections because children rub their itchy eyes.
Treatment
There is no cure for hay fever, so treatment aims to manage the symptoms. The best way to reduce the frequency of your child’s hay fever is to identify what causes their allergic reaction and then try to avoid or minimise contact with it. If your child is allergic to pollen, checking the pollen count for your region can help you be aware when your child’s hay fever may be worse. (https://www.melbournepollen.com.au/)
Your doctor or pharmacist may suggest using medication to relieve your child’s symptoms, such as:
- non-drowsy antihistamines
- steroid nasal sprays.
For more information
https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/a-z-health-reference/hay-fever