I have a 12 year old son who suffers mild hayfever in the spring - he hasn't always suffered but it seems to get slightly worse the older he gets. I haven't ever taken him to the doctor with it, i just give him anti-histamines when he needs them.

This last week he has been complaining of a stuffy nose and runny eyes so i've given him tablets but don't like to keep giving them. He's just started a new school which he is happy about, and i thought of dust allergy so gave his room a good dust and hoover, hoovered his bed and bought anti-allergy mattress and pillow covers.

Surely it's not hayfever season is it ?

Hayfever can appear at any time and often gets worse. As it's autumn there could be moulds around which are making him react. I'd let the doctor see him and perhaps he needs testing to find out what he is reacting to. Hayfever/allergic reactions can make you feel really unwell and miserable so I'd definitely see the doctor if only to confirm how often he should take anti-histamines and what type suit him best. It is also possible that he could be reacting to an environmental substance- paint, building dust and so on. You may never get to the bottom of the cause but should be able to treat the symptoms.

Hayfever type symptoms can happen at any time of the year for any reason, would suggest that because it is getting worse for your son asking the doctor for tests may be a good idea to hopefully stop him suffering all his life and particularly when he gets to the major exam times.

If it is hay fever and it is an allergy to plants, not dust, then get some local honey, not the stuff you get in the supermarket that is made elsewhere. I have found that a teaspoon a day alleviates the symptoms, though it can take a few days to act.

At this time of year certain trees are releasing their pollen so he could be allergic to that particular pollen, whereas he is fine with others, eg grass.

Can you get honey from your local area and get him to have a little every day?
It is said to be the best help there is for reducing symptoms.

KAren :)

I too have heard this. I'm extremely glad you have found it gives you relief though I have met many others who have tried and says it definitely does not. I also refer to one study that does not support these claims http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11868925

I guess everything is worth a go but, in my experience anyhow, the only thing that helped bad cases is antihistamines and in the very worst a cortisone shot.

Are you sure he isn't reacting to dust mites? Often hayfever sufferers have the same symptoms and as it starts getting cooler and we turn on heating and shut the windows it triggers the usual runny nose.

I have suffering from hayfever for 24 years--it started when I was pregnant aged 30 and has got steadily worse until this year. I keep bees and was stung several times over the summer--and for the first time ever barely had any symptoms at all. Obviously a teaspoon of honey is much easier to take, but I was intrigued that the stings seem to have alleviated the problem.

A friend's son had hayfever like symptoms and one of the things tests revealed he was allergic to was silver birch of all things. Have you discounted foods like dairy, additives/e numbers etc?

> Have you discounted foods like dairy, additives/e numbers etc?

No because he usually has symptoms at the usual time in the spring/summer.

He first started complaining  a week or so ago and it seemed to start when he went to bed and laid down, hence why i gave his room a good clean and put anti-allergy pillow and mattress covers on.
It seems silly to take up a doctors appointment when all he has is a bit of hayfever but i will take him on Monday (if i can get an appointment) as the whole thing just doesn't seem right.

Thanks for your replies.

My son has had hay fever symptoms.
I am afraid I just ignored them. He has had a snuffly nose, on and off over the years.
He gets on with it, and moving to the middle of no where his 'hay fever' isnt a problem (even though they were harvesting right next to our cottage!!) .
I didnt give him any pills etc for last 8 years.
Not saying thats what your son has, but do thimnk, because I havnt pandered to it by giving tab.lets, then maybe he hasnt gpot worse. Probably complete;y bwrong but worked for us!!!!!
Good luck xxxx
Lea :)

it seemed to start when he went to bed and laid down,

Mine is exactly the same, blockage clears after I have been up for about an hour and leaves me with nose blowing only but it can be really bad when I am in bed, thought is was dust mite but it is not so it is best to see if it can be sorted as it can sometimes be something you eliminate all together or at least avoid. Mind you if it is dust mite that is almost impossible to deal with except by taking antihistamine.

I would think he's got house dust mite allergy, everything has a certain time during the year and I'm sure that house dust mite, although around most of the time it's season starts again around now. 

No harm in giving him antihistamines if they help.

Took him to the doctor's and the doc said that in her opinion there are 2 times a year when hayfever is at it's worst - June and September. So she just said to give anti-histamine and to try a nasal spray.
True to form, a couple of days passed after going to the doc's and it has gone !