Children: Over-the-counter remedies for hay fever

Runny nose and/or blocked nose, sneezing attacks, watery and/or itchy Eye irritation , but also fatigue – these symptoms indicate an allergy. In spring, pollen from hazel, alder, and birch are common triggers. If the symptoms occur year-round, a house dust mite allergy must also be considered. The general rule is: Ideally, a medical diagnosis should be made first. This is also important for monitoring the further course of the disease, since an annoying, but often seemingly harmless, allergy can develop into a » Hay fever can develop into asthma. The doctor can also consider whether hyposensitization is possible and advisable.

There are a number of treatment options for allergic diseases. Medicines that have a pediatric license. For milder complaints, topical preparations can be used, such as eye drops and/or Nasal sprays . The H ₁ antihistamines azelastine (e.g., Allergodil® acute), ketotifen (e.g., Zaditen® Ophtha), and levocabastine (e.g., Livocab® direct) as well as the mast cell stabilizer cromoglycic acid (e.g., Crom-Ophtal®) are available as eye drops. Azelastine eye drops can be used for seasonal allergies even at It can be usedin children from the age of four, and for non-seasonal allergies only from the age of twelve. Levocabastine is approved for use from the age of one, and ketotifen eye drops from the age of three. All three active ingredients are applied twice daily and relieve symptoms in just a few minutes.

If nasal symptoms are the primary concern, antiallergic nasal sprays may be considered. Azelastine is suitable for children six years and older; levocabastine nasal spray, like the eye drops, can be used in children one year and older. Here, too, the nasal sprays should be used twice daily. Ketotifen is not available as a nasal spray. Decongestant nasal sprays are suitable for short-term use for nasal congestion—especially at night—to promote restful sleep. Over-the-counter corticoid-containing nasal sprays are only approved for adults.

There is no specific age limit for the mast cell stabilizer cromoglycic acid; according to the product information, it can be used as eye drops and nasal spray for adults and children. It is best to start using it two weeks before the expected pollen count. The preparations are applied four times daily.