Dr Adam Fox MA(Hons) Cantab.,
MSc,MB,BS,DCH,FRCPCH,FHEA,Dip. Allergy
Consultant Paediatric Allergist
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Hayfever (Rhinoconjunctivitis)Allergic rhinitis can be seasonal (hayfever) or last all year round. It effects up to 15% of children and can start in early childhood. As well as being intensely irritating, rhinitis can affect the quality of sleep and as a result will impact on the child’s ability to concentrate and learn.
Recent research has shown that children with hayfever are 50% more likely to drop a grade from their winter mock exams to their summer time public exams. Even more worrying is that children with hayfever, using the wrong treatment, such as over the counter, sedating antihistamines, were 70% more likely to drop a grade.
Fortunately, symptoms of itchy, blocked, runny nose and sneezing as well as itchy eyes can often be treated with safe medication together with identification and avoidance of the causative allergen.
However, for children with more troublesome symptoms there have been very exciting developments with treatments such as desensitisation or immunotherapy now available from allergy specialists (see New Specialist Treatments section). These can not only treat the symptoms of rhinitis but it would appear that they may also prevent the development of new allergies and even asthma. |
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