We have recently discovered that our son more than likely has hay fever. He’s almost four and was showing quite a few of the main symptoms. 

Until then we hadn’t even considered Hay Fever so I did a bit of research and thought I would share with you some of the main symptoms to watch out for. 

Sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes are three of the most common symptoms of hay-fever. These were the things we noticed out of the blue one sunny day in April (THE sunny day in April. The Saturday where everyone had their entire summer in one day). The sun was splitting the trees and for some reason, my son spent 99% of the day sneezing. It was funny in the beginning and we actually wondered if he might be “putting it on” because the sheer amount of sneezes was bizarre. 

Hay fever symptoms can be experienced at different times of the year but they usually occur in Spring and Summer due to there being more pollen in the air. 

The symptoms are a representation of the body’s defence system reacting to a harmless substance (pollen). The nose, eyes and mouth release a chemical called histamine which triggers symptoms similar to that of an allergic reaction. 

The symptoms of Hay Fever can affect the senses. In most cases, taste and smell are altered due to the swellings that occur in the upper part of the nose. For this reason, children may choose to eat or drink less during a particularly strong bout of Hay Fever. 

In the very same way, it can cause some children to wheeze or cough as the inflammation of the sinus can irritate the lungs. 

There is no cure for Hay Fever but there are many over the counter antihistamine medications that can help with the symptoms. If symptoms are extreme and these medications do not help it is recommended that you speak to your family GP.