How to tell if your child has an allergy or cold with our hay fever symptom guide

Children as young as two can suffer from hay fever, but many parents find it hard to tell if a child has an allergy or another illness, making it hard to treat.

Hay fever, which is also known as allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to airborne allergens such as pollen, dust mites, or animal saliva or dander – the tiny flecks of skin shed by animals with fur or feathers.

With symptoms including sneezing, a runny or congested nose, and itchy, watery eyes, it can closely resemble other illnesses, such as a cold.

What is hay fever?

There are two types of hay fever; seasonal hay fever and perennial hay fever.

Perennial hay fever occurs all year round and is caused by triggers such as dust mites, animal saliva or dander and mould spores.

Seasonal hay fever is the most