Remember, if you are unsure about your diagnosis, or which treatment to use, consult a doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Advice and Treatment

Children's allergies

No parent likes to see their child suffering. First, you need to determine whether it's a cold or a summer allergy. So how do you know whether it's a sign of an allergy or just a rotten old summer cold?

Some of the common symptoms are very similar - sneezing and a runny or blocked nose. Other clues will give you a better idea of what's to blame.

It's probably an allergy if...

  • Symptoms appear within minutes
  • Each episode lasts no more than a few hours
  • Their mucus is thin or watery
  • Their eyes are sore, watery or itchy
  • Their mouth, throat or nose is itchy

It's probably a cold if...

  • Symptoms build up gradually over a few hours
  • Symptoms last for several days
  • Their mucus is thick
  • They have a temperature and/or a cough
  • They feel achy all over

Everyone reacts differently and your child could experience a range of symptoms. As well as the more common ones above, they might get headaches, blocked sinuses and earaches. They might lose their sense of taste or smell, or come up in a rash from touching a certain type of plant. Whatever combination of symptoms you notice, keeping track of when they happen could be the all-important telltale sign.

Never let down your guard

Spring and summer tend to be the danger months for hay fever sufferers, when plants are busy releasing their pollen into the air - waging war on our senses. If your child has some lingering symptoms throughout the rest of the year then they might be sensitive to dust and mould too.

Either way, the best plan of action is to get a proper diagnosis from your family GP. They may just ask you some questions and confirm the allergy from your answers. That's great but if it's hay fever, it's even better to know which type of plant, grass or tree is the culprit because they all release pollen at different times. Allergy blood tests will make it easier to plan your picnics and family outings so your child can enjoy as much of the summer as possible.

Allergies aren't much fun, especially not for kids, but they're not the end of the world. Once you know what's causing the problem, you can start taking steps to help protect your child from pollen and find a treatment that'll help them feel better again.