There will be many little ones struggling with hay fever symptoms over the coming weeks as the warmer weather settles in for the summer months.
Whether your child has suffered with this allergy before or you’re only beginning to notice some new symptoms after playing outside, there are treatments available to ease their symptoms.
Everyone is well-versed on the usual symptoms associated with this seasonal allergy, but did you know there are some lesser-known signs you should know about.
Rumeet Patel, LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, told the Daily Mail that some signs are a lot harder to link to hay fever unless you are aware of them.
So, here are five much less common indicators to look out for:
Rumeet explained that if your child is excessively sweating, then it could be as a result of “stress, pain or when your immune system is vulnerable - all factors which can occur in hay fever.”
The online doctor said that this is a lot less common, but that loss of smell can be as a result of the allergy.
“Also known as anosmia, inflammation in the nasal passages can impact our sense of smell.
“This is the body's way of limiting the amount of pollen that reaches the nose.”
There is also a link between headaches and migraines and an allergy to pollen.
“Sinus inflammation can cause a build-up of pressure which results in a sinus headache,' Rumeet explained.
“This tends to feel as if there is intense pressure inside the head or behind the eyes.
“The histamines released during a hay fever account can also give rise to migraines.”
When our sinuses come under pressure as a result of being allergic to the pollen being inhaled, facial pain can be experienced.
“Many people don't realise that hay fever can cause pain around the cheeks, eyes and forehead,” Rumeet said.
“When you have hay fever, the small air-filled cavities behind the cheekbones and forehead can become inflamed or blocked.”
If you notice that your asthma symptoms are worsening during the summer months, this could indicate that you are suffering with this allergy.
“If you have asthma, you may find hay fever worsens symptoms like wheezing and breathlessness.
“In fact, some people also find they only experience asthma symptoms during hay fever season.
“People with hay fever are also much more likely to develop asthma.”
You should speak to your local pharmacist if you’re looking to minimise the symptoms for you or your child.
They can give advice and suggest the best treatments, suitable for different age groups.
Treatments include antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays.
