Signs of Allergic Rhinitis in a Child

Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is a condition in which irritants such as pollen, dust, mold and smoke cause nasal problems that linger longer than a cold. While living with allergies is not fun, paying attention to the signs can help your child live a healthy and happy life. Key to this is knowing what triggers your child's symptoms and how to effectively treat them. If they are seasonal allergies, often your pediatrician will suggest an over-the-counter antihistamine. If they are perennial, the doctor may recommend seeing an allergist who can determine exactly what your child is allergic to and suggest a course of treatment, which may include allergy shots.

Nasal Issues

• Sneezing, runny noses and sniffling are common signs of allergies. Other nasal issues include nosebleeds, nasal congestion, post nasal drip (in which the drainage from the nose goes down the back of the throat), mouth breathing and enlarged adenoids. The drainage from a runny nose and sneezing is generally clear when dealing with allergic rhinitis. If the child lives with the allergies untreated, these issues may lead to snoring and sleep apnea.

Ear Issues

• Children with allergic rhinitis may have more frequent ear infections because nasal passages and sinuses get congested and back up into the ears. Children may also complain that their ears are itchy.

Eye Issues

• A child's eyes may be watery, itchy and may develop frequent infections such as conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. This occurs because the sinuses and nasal passages get blocked with congestion and cause a buildup of mucus.

Sleep Disruption

• Sleep may be disturbed in patients dealing with allergic rhinitis due to sleep apnea and snoring. Both sleep apnea and snoring are caused by frequent nasal congestion. Over time, the nasal passages become inflamed permanently. This lack of sleep can lead to poor school performance, behavioral issues and problems focusing on tasks. Some children also experience bed-wetting and insomnia, according to the Children's Hospital in Boston.

Longer Lasting Infections

• Children with allergic rhinitis tend to take longer to recover from viral and bacterial infections such as colds and sinus infections according to Children's Hospital in Boston. This can happen because the nasal passages are chronically inflamed and take longer to clear out the mucus. Kids may also develop tonsillitis more often, leading to the tonsils and adenoids being removed. This happens because the tonsils and adenoids get inflamed or enlarged over time by the drainage down the back of the throat and the chronic or frequent nasal congestion.

Other Reactions

• Some children may have problems with asthma as well. This may present as frequent coughing spells, wheezing or restricted breathing.