Spring is here and with that comes allergy season. Allergy
symptoms affect 1:5 people and some of the first symptoms often
begin in childhood. Seasonal allergies are usually not seen
until a child is 3 -4 years of age. If a child's parents both
suffer from allergic rhinitis their children have a 70 -80 %
chance of developing allergies as well. While some people call
allergies hay fever this is really an inaccurate name. The
allergy may have nothing to do with hay, but rather may be due
to tree pollens or grasses, and children with allergies don't
have a fever. The most common symptoms of seasonal allergies are
an itchy nose, with a clear nasal discharge, watery and red
eyes, sneezing, congestion, post nasal drip and a cough. When
your child is outside playing they are inhaling the pollens and
grasses that are prevalent at this time of year and these
pollens may cause the release of histamines in an allergic
child. The histamines are responsible for many of the allergic
symptoms. On days that your child seems