Tackle hay fever before sun shines
The spectrum of symptoms includes streaming eyes and nose, nasal congestion, tickling sensation when breathing, sneezing, swollen eyes and itchy palate, throat, eyes and nose. “Itching caused by hay fever leads children to rub their noses upwards, causing a nasal crease — it’s called the allergic salute,” says Dr Basil Elnazir, consultant in general and respiratory paediatrics at the National Children’s Hospital.
Hay fever is often viewed as a trivial problem, which adds to the woes of the estimated 25% of Irish school-children who suffer from the condition, says Dublin-based consultant respiratory and allergy specialist Dr Peter Greally.
