Home treatment for hay fever symptoms

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Home treatment for hay fever symptoms

Hay fever symptoms include itchy, watering eyes; sneezing; runny, stuffy, or itchy nose; headache; and fatigue. The following home treatment may help relieve your symptoms:

• Take an antihistamine, such as Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton, to reduce symptoms of itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, or runny, itchy nose. Be sure to read and follow any warnings on the label. Don't give antihistamines to your child unless you've checked with the doctor first.
• Take a decongestant, such as Sudafed PE, to relieve a stuffy nose. Do not give decongestants to a child younger than 2 unless your child’s doctor has told you to. If your child’s doctor tells you to give a medicine, be sure to follow what he or she tells you to do.
• Clean the inside of the nose with salt water to clear a stuffy nose.
• Use a vaporizer or humidifier in the bedroom and take hot showers to help clear a stuffy nose.
• If your nose is red and raw from rubbing, put petroleum jelly on the sore area.
• Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin to help relieve pain. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 because of the risk of a rare but serious illness called Reye's syndrome.

Credits

Last updated:	July 11, 2007
Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer