Hay fever sufferers have been warned of a potential shortage of medication – just as the Met Office forecasts high pollen levels in Wales in the coming days. Supply issues mean that some drug manufacturers are experiencing shortages and it could spell trouble for people with hay fever.
The NHS is also experiencing shortages of blood pressure pills and anti-depressants as drug manufacturers continue to experience supply issues. And experts warn there is a “real risk” of further shortages in the coming months.
As a result of the hay fever medicine shortage, millions of people could be forced to spend a lot of their time indoors this summer. For many, antihistamines are the only thing that helps to ease the symptoms of hay fever, but if there is no medicine available what else can you do?
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Tv doctor Hillary Jones has shared some of his top alternatives to help manage hay fever symptoms, as he says sufferers shouldn’t be “extraordinarily worried” by the short supply, as reported by the MEN. During Lorraine Kelly’s morning ITV show, Dr Hilary voiced his opinions on the shortages, saying Brexit “hasn’t helped” and explained: “There is a shortage of some medicines but certainly not all.
“We’ve got 90 products that treat hay fever, which you purchase over the counter at chemists, and there’s four in short supply.” The TV doctor shared some of his own hacks for dealing with hay fever, starting with advice to “listen to Laura Tobin with the weather forecast and the pollen forecast” adding: “She will tell you when the bad days are on their way – Friday is going to be a bad day because we’ve got higher temperatures.”
Do you know any hay fever remedies? Share them in the comments below
He went on to say: “Avoid going out in the early morning and early evening, which is when the pollen tends to rise into the sky and then fall to the ground later on as the air cools. Think about wrap-around sunglasses, thinking about pollen filters in your car, think about Vaseline in the nostrils.
“Think about having a shower when you come in from a walk outside. To get rid of pollen in your hair and shampoo your hair as well”. He also recommended pet owners shampoo their pets, particularly dogs, after a walk as they can carry pollen on their coats and can also develop symptoms of hay fever.
As indoor mask mandates drop in some of North Carolina’s most populous counties and schools, other non-COVID viruses are likely to start cropping up.
We saw a similar trend in the summer of 2021. The U.S. saw a national spike in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as people got vaccinated and COVID restrictions loosened for a couple months before the onset of the Delta variant. RSV is a seasonal respiratory illness that usually spreads in the fall and winter, particularly among children who tend to have more severe cases of it.
Ibukun Christine Kalu, a pediatric infectious disease doctor at Duke. Photo courtesy of Duke Department of Pediatrics
Our patterns of behavior have been heavily altered by the pandemic and so have some trends in other common illnesses. Ibukun Kalu, a pediatric infectious disease doctor at Duke, said we typically expect to see a lot more RSV infections in January and February than what’s being reported this year. Instead, the virus peaked out of season.
COVID cases may be trending down at the moment, but other viruses and germs didn’t go away. We could start seeing more of the usual suspects — cold viruses and stomach bugs. Both have visited my house in recent weeks.
“As we mix a little bit more, we peel back masking, we travel a lot more, and we start to find ourselves in more crowded settings, I think we will see a different kind of spread of some of the other viruses that were a little bit lower in the last few years,” Kalu said.
As I’m writing this, my son’s preschool emailed warning parents that an intestinal virus is circulating through the school. Unfortunately, I’m too familiar with that one as it ran its course through my family last week. Though my house has been vomit-free for a few days, my 2-year-old is in the other room sleeping off yet another non-COVID virus that’s given him a runny nose and a 102 degree fever.
Why it’s worse for toddlers
Households with small children may be particularly susceptible to these non-COVID illnesses after two years of a pandemic.
“It does raise a lot of concern for this age group, particularly our lovely 2 to 3 year olds that really have not been exposed to non-COVID viruses for a multitude of reasons the last two years,” Kalu said. “We may see those kids get routine infections for the first time.”
It’s normal for small children to catch a lot of different viruses during their first few years of life, “priming” their naive immune systems to get stronger. A reasonable exposure to germs and bacteria are actually good for the immune system. But if you’re like me and you kept your toddler at home, skipping holiday gatherings and birthday parties until now, your little one’s immune system might have some catching up to do.
My son was born about six months before the pandemic, and he didn’t even have the sniffles for the first two years of his life. His immune system went untested. This winter when the Omicron variant spread rapidly, his preschool closed out of caution for days, sometimes weeks at a time. While I and every other parent of a small child were losing our sanity juggling work and these sporadic child care closures, my son stayed healthy.
Reporter Taylor Knopf’s son Theo takes the temperature of his stuffed elephant toy. Photo credit: Taylor Knopf
Since COVID cases started declining, my son’s preschool has been open and he has been congested, coughing, sneezing, vomiting or running fevers ever since. I’ve been checking in with his pediatrician, who says that this is all normal. I know his little immune system will be stronger for it, but it does feel like our household is experiencing a year’s worth of illnesses in a month’s time.
The good news, Kalu said, is that “the early immune system is extremely adaptable. It is so smart and learning from exposure and building defense systems. So it shouldn’t lead to any long-term negative outcomes for them. It just might mean a slightly rougher summer with some of these infections.”
So fellow parents of little ones, here’s your warning: stock up on children’s Tylenol, Gatorade, tissues and Imodium (for yourself, because one of you will get the stomach flu too). And always contact your child’s pediatrician with questions. Your child’s doctor can also test for RSV or influenza and get them extra support if needed as these illnesses can be worse for small kids, Kalu said.
As you or your child battle these other illnesses, you should also monitor for COVID-19 if you’re experiencing flu-like symptoms to prevent further spread.
“I think we should try and use tests as freely as possible, particularly for parents of toddlers who currently are not eligible for a vaccine,” Kalu advised. Rapid tests are very reliable when someone is showing symptoms. You can mail-order free government-funded rapid COVID tests to your home.
Don’t forget other vaccines
Spring usually means the tapering off of flu season. But this year could be different. If you haven’t gotten you or your child a flu shot yet, Kalu says it’s not too late to do so, especially if you’re planning gatherings and travel.
She said that public health experts typically expect to see a decline of flu and other respiratory viruses in March, but that they could linger a few extra months this year.
As statewide COVID cases have steadily declined, influenza-like illness increased slightly in early March, according to the state health department’s surveillance system. Nationally, there have been more cases of the flu and related hospitalizations in recent weeks, and flu vaccination rates are lower than previous flu seasons. While current flu cases are higher than last season, they are not higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Graph showing the percent of ED visits this season (red line) that are for influenza-like illness compared to previous seasons (grey lines). Recently, there’s been an uptick in the number of people reporting to North Carolina’s emergency departments complaining of flu-like illnesses. Data: NC DETECT; Graph courtesy: NC DHHS
“But the reassuring thing is we’ve handled these viruses for decades,” Kalu said. “We actually know what to do and perhaps we’ve learned a little bit more with a pandemic about how we can take better care of ourselves when we’re feeling ill to prevent spread.”
Parents should also make sure their children are up to date on their other vaccines, such as chickenpox or the MMR series which prevents measles, mumps and rubella.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that vaccine ordering data show a 14 percent drop in 2020 and 2021 compared to 2019, and measles vaccine ordering is down by more than 20 percent.
Public health experts say it’s important to get all children up to date on their vaccines to prevent any outbreaks of illness. The CDC has resources for parents and physicians about how to catch up.
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by Taylor Knopf, North Carolina Health News March 16, 2022
Fever from illness is a natural part of life and something any mother has dealt with multiple times. They can be worrisome and cause concern, but fevers will happen, and it’s important to know how to treat them. Fever is a sign of infection in the body and is an indication that your body’s immune system is fighting something off. In some cases, giving a child medicine for a fever isn’t even necessary, and using over-the-counter medicine for fevers makes your child more comfortable, but it doesn’t get rid of the fever.
The concern with fever is if it gets too high or if it’s affecting your child too much. A long-lasting high fever can cause damage, but these are rare. They may cause your child to feel generally down, but there are things to try before turning to Tylenol. Healthy Children states that most fevers don’t need to be treated with medicine at all. If your child has a history of high fevers that lead to further complications, of course, treat the fever however your pediatrician or doctor advises.
However, if your child handles fevers generally fine, OTC medicine doesn’t have to be the only option to get your child feeling better. Here are six alternative ways to break your child’s fever and keep them comfortable as their fever runs its course.
Keep Your Child Hydrated
Via Pexels
We know that fluids are extremely important when sick and kids have a more difficult time maintaining hydration when sick. There’s an old saying to starve a fever, and most kids don’t have much of an appetite when they’re running a fever anyway. Your child doesn’t need to be eating a ton, but they need to stay hydrated. Have your child take small sips of water every 10-15 minutes. Sports drinks, popsicles, and ice are other great options to aid in hydration if water just isn’t cutting it.
Give Them A Warm Bath
via Pexels/cottonbro
A lukewarm bath can quickly bring down your child’s overall body temperature. Draw a bath that isn’t cold but isn’t hot and have them climb in. Use washcloths to lay on in their back or chest and let them relax until the water gets cool, or they want to get it out. You can give them a few baths a day if they need it. It isn’t necessary to wash them with soap every time but be sure to pay attention if their skin is getting too dry and use lotion if needed.
Do not give your child an ice bath. This will only increase the fever because the body is trying to stay at a temperature that will help fight off the illness.
Sponging
This is the same idea as a bath but done with washcloth or sponge while your child relaxes. Soak a sponge or washcloth in cool water, wring it out and placing on your child’s forehead for 15-20 minutes. Re-soak the sponge or cloth and repeat as many times as necessary. You can also place the sponge on their back, stomach, or upper legs to relieve some of their fever.
RELATED: Are Cold Drinks & Foods Bad For Kids When They’re Sick?
Via Pexels
When your child has a fever, their body is working extra hard to fight off the illness they have. More likely than not, your kid will be more lethargic anyway so have them nap or just watch movies all day. Sleep and rest will help your child’s immune system do what it needs to do which is fight off this illness. Extra sleep is one of the simplest alternative recommendations for curing a child’s fever.
While the body rests, it has the necessary time and energy to focus solely on fighting off the illness.
Put Your Child In Wet Socks
Via Pexels/Taryn Elliott
This alternative treatment is explained by Farmer’s Almanac, and they acknowledge it sounds strange. Warm your child’s feet in warm water then dry completely. Then soak a pair of thin cotton socks in cold water, put them on your child’s feet, then cover up with dry wool socks. The idea is that this encourages the immune system to activate and improves blood circulation. It’s certainly an old treatment developed before medicine, but it may just work if it’s been around this long.
Make sure, however, that your child feels comfortable doing this. If they complain or say they are too cold, consider listening to them because they may be letting you know how their body feels and ultimately what it needs.
Serve Warm Tea Or Warm Broth
via Unsplash / Content Pixie
Herbal teas without caffeine are safe for all ages and also another great alternative. Tea has healing properties and chamomile is a great choice for kids. According to Wellness Mama, chamomile has a slightly sweet apple flavor kids love. Some honey can give the tea a better test for kids if it isn’t their favorite. Bone broth is also a great choice for a feverish child. There is nutrition in the broth that can help them feel fuller. Both tea and bone broth are easy to digest and should be encouraged at least once a day while sick.
No one wants your child to be sick and a fever can be scary, but when should you worry? We break it down.
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About The Author
Larissa Marulli (724 Articles Published)
Larissa Marulli is a mom to two young school-aged kids. She received a degree in journalism shortly before having her first child and is a news and features writer for Moms. The proud mom of two is from Colorado and loves the mountains. changing seasons, and hot coffee all year round. Larissa has seen it all and has struggled with the challenges of motherhood. She is getting better with age and prides herself in using the written word to entertain others as well as educate. Larissa loves books, napping, people in small doses, and her family.
