Is your child one of the up to 30% of children with hayfever? While it can't be cured, there is a lot we can do at home to help minimise the impact.
HERE ARE 14 OF OUR FAVOURITE WAYS TO MANAGE HAYFEVER:
1. Know their triggers
Common allergens and triggers include pollen, dust and dust mites, pet dander (hair and skin flakes), moulds, spores and smoke. Try to notice patterns between symptoms and allergens.
2. Wash up
Make a routine of washing hands and face when you come home. For extra points, change out of your day clothes and have a bath after playing outside.
3. Housekeeping
Regularly wipe surfaces and vacuum floors and sofas.
4. Bedroom
Use a dust-mite proof mattress cover and remove soft toys from bedrooms. If you child must have a special toy in their room, wash it weekly.
5. Pets
If you have pets, wipe them down with a microfibre cloth when they come inside, to limit the pollen they bring in. Don’t let them sleep in your child’s room, especially on their bed.
6. Washing day
Wash sheets weekly and dry on an indoor airer or on a low-pollen count day. Every two months, wash doonas, blankets and dust-mite cover in a hot wash.
7. Medications
Ask your Pharmacist at Terry White Chemmart for children’s antihistamines, nasal sprays and other options. Use these consistently as directed rather than waiting for symptoms to worsen.
8. Action plan
Work with your GP to develop an action plan outlining steps to take when and how to take medications, symptoms and steps to take if they get worse. Provide copies to your child's school, daycare or others who care for them.
9. Prepare ahead
When avoiding allergens is impossible (for example, visiting a friend with a pet), take a recommended antihistamine ahead of time to minimise discomfort.
10. Get curious
Get into the habit of checking the next day's pollen count. There are apps and websites which do this.
11. Pollen proofing
Stay indoors on windy days, high pollen count days and after thunderstorms.
12. Dose tracker
Keep a record of when each dose is given and the amount or use a medication organiser. This helps each carer stay on track.
13. Testing
Blood and skin prick tests can safely administer a variety of common triggers, and test which inflame your child’s immune system. This helps your care team support your child.
14. Immunotherapy
Children over 5 with severe hayfever may benefit from desensitisation therapy to decrease their allergic response.