Does your child have itchy, red eyes and a runny nose right as the weather begins to warm up? It may be seasonal allergies.

What are allergies?

Immune system reactions cause allergies. When an allergen is detected, the body may release histamines. Histamines cause symptoms such as red eyes, stuffy nose, and congestion. Hay fever, or nasal allergies, is the most common type of seasonal allergy. Hay fever is caused by inhaling pollen (or other allergens).

Common allergens include animal dander (animal fur or dust) or pollen (from budding trees). The most common pollens are grass, trees, and ragweed. Pollen is usually in the air for about 2 months, but pollen season can last 8 months. Seasonal allergies occur in late spring, early summer, and even into the fall in the U.S.

Allergies are not the same as asthma. Not all children with allergies have asthma. Asthma is a chronic condition of the lungs, resulting in lung inflammation and breathing problems. However, for children with asthma, triggers like pollen and animal dander can cause shortness of breath, wheezing, and exercise intolerance. Up to 80% of children with asthma also have allergies, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Symptoms of seasonal allergies

Common allergy symptoms include:

Itchy or runny nose, nasal stuffiness, sneezing, or throat clearing.
Dry cough with clear mucus.
Puffy/swollen, red, watery, itchy eyes.
Ear and sinus congestion.
Itchy ear canals.
Itchy, dry throat.
Rashes may also occur. Many children with nasal allergies also have eczema (patches of itchy, red skin).

Advice for treating allergies at home

Allergies often stem from outdoor seasonal changes as plants begin to bloom. Pet dander can accumulate within the home, also causing allergies. You can do a few things at home to alleviate allergy symptoms.

Always wash pollen off your child’s face after time spent outside. You could also use over-the-counter normal saline nasal sprays as needed.
You can apply a cool compress to itchy, red, and puffy eyes. Make sure to use a different compress each time.
Take a nightly bath or shower to rinse/wash off the hair and body.
You can do specific cleaning to help reduce dust and dander in your home.
As much as possible, avoid all triggers. Keep windows closed in the bedroom/house. Change pillowcases daily.
You can purchase over-the-counter allergy remedies, such as oral antihistamines or eye drops.

Over-the-counter allergy medicine

Always follow the package directions or consult your pharmacist or pediatrician if you need clarification on the dosing of over-the-counter antihistamines. Some common allergy remedies and dosing guidelines are listed below.

Claritin, for ages 2-5 years old: 5 mg every 24 hours; for ages 6 years and older: 10 mg every 24 hours.
Zyrtec (Cetirizine), for ages 6 months to 2 years: 2.5 mL (2.5 mg) every 24 hours. For 2 years and older, follow package directions for age-appropriate dosing.
Zaditor eye drops, for ages 3 years and older. Apply 1 drop to the affected eye twice daily (every 12 hours).
Your pediatrician may also recommend nasal sprays, such as Flonase.

If there are no signs of improvement after 4-5 days of taking these medications, make an appointment with your pediatrician.

When to call your doctor

There are some cases where you should call your pediatrician's office. If your child is having issues with their ear, including swelling, drainage, redness, or ear pulling, you’ll want to have them evaluated in the office. Call your doctor if your child has difficulty breathing, wheezing, or respiratory distress. Allergies may trigger asthma attacks.

Resources:

This article was written by Katie Taibl, BSN, RN, CPN. Katie is a pediatric nurse and clinical freelance writer, with over nine years of experience in acute and primary care settings. As the Patient and Family Outreach Educator at Roslindale Pediatric Associates, she helps parents and patients access actionable, user-friendly health content.