The Basics of Child Hay Fever

In the past it has been maintained that child hay fever didn't really exist and that children could not "get" child hay fever because their immune systems and sinuses were underdeveloped. While it is true that these systems continue to grow and develop throughout the child and adolescent years, it is not true that child hay fever doesn't exist; child hay fever is one of the most prevalent forms of child allergy.

What Is It?

Hay fever is a generalized term that refers most often to a seasonal allergy, usually a pollen allergy. Medically, hay fever is called allergic rhinitis, a term that also encompasses other nasal allergies including dust mite allergies and mold allergies.

Hay fever results when an allergen, like pollen, is inhaled. The body reacts abnormally to the pollen, setting off a chain of reactions that result in the nasal allergy symptoms most commonly associated with hay fever.

What Does It Look Like?

Child hay fever involves a number of allergy symptoms which may occur singly or in combination. These symptoms range in severity from mild to moderate to severe; hay fever very rarely causes a life-threatening reaction. The common symptoms associated with child hay fever include

• Stuffy nose and nasal congestion
• Chest congestion
• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Itchy eyes and nose
• Itchy mouth (roof of mouth especially) and throat
• "Allergic Shiners"-dark circles under the eyes, may be swollen
• Cough
• Post-nasal drip
• Pressure or pain in the face/sinus region

Certain irritants may exacerbate child hay fever symptoms, including tobacco smoke, inhaled fumes, and perfumes. Also, child hay fever symptoms can affect mood, make a child irritable and cause behavior problems, decrease energy level, cause fatigue, and cause trouble sleeping. The symptoms of child hay fever usually appear very soon after exposure to pollen or allergens, and last as long as the exposure.

When Does It Happen?

Child hay fever occurs during times of the year when allergenic plants and trees are pollinating-releasing fine grains of pollen for reproduction; pollens are released into the air and blow around freely, coming into the home on clothing and through opened doors and windows. Exposure which causes child hay fever can occur inside or out, any time pollen levels rise above tolerable.

The time of the year that plant and trees release their pollens varies by climate and location; in the warm south child hay fever can exist nearly year-round, but in the north child hay fever usually peaks from spring to early fall; traditionally, August and late summer-when ragweed pollens proliferate-were considered the true child hay fever season.