How common is hay fever in children?
It’s very common. The incidence is probably twice that of adults. About 20 percent of children have some form of allergic rhinitis, which is commonly known as hay fever. How can allergies impact a child’s life? Children like to play outdoors and most of the sports that school-age children playsuch as football, baseball, soccer and tennisare outdoor sports, which happen in the fall and the springtime, when pollen counts are highest. Children that have symptoms of allergic rhinitis may not perform to the best of their abilities. Also, children with allergies may experience interrupted sleep, which means they may be more tired than they would ordinarily be. So they may not have as much energy or desire to participate in physical activities. Allergies can also affect a child’s learning. Numerous scientific studies have shown that children with allergies don’t learn as well as children who don’t have allergies. It’s also been shown that children treated with non-sedating medicines do better
