Dr Phil Kieran: What hay fever medicine should I have on standby?

"Hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, can be severe in Ireland as residential areas are often situated near tillage farms, which means most of us are exposed to pollen for the growing season."

Pic: iStock

My children, aged five and eight, suffer from hay fever, and I’m careful to keep the windows closed and dry their clothes indoors. Mostly, they manage without medication. In case there’s an emergency, what OTC medicine would you suggest having on standby?

This year’s hay fever season seems much worse than usual. Many people who never had hay fever are getting it, and those who already had the condition are suffering more than usual.