Hayfever

[Ruth_Baldock]

You may remember me from posts such as "Is my baby a (beautiful) freak?".

We went to the GP about Lex's odd face rash, and that coupled with red,'watery eyes, coughing and sneezing points towards a nasty case of hayfever. I've been told that giving her locally produced honey may very well help, but has anyone got any other practical suggestions?

[nikki73]

Ruth you might want to double check the advice re honey. I thought that in the UK honey is not recommended for under 1s because of the risk of botulism - which is rare but very dangerous. Although I just read in a French magazine that it's a risk for babies under 6 months but it wasn't a medical journal or anything.

Btw thanks for posting because my little girl has recently started displaying all these symptoms. Will look into it.

[nikki73]

Tips I've heard for adults but may help babies: airing rooms early in the day rather than later as pollen count is lower, brushing hair to get particules out. Maybe washing hair in evening? When I was pregnant and didnt want to take antihistemines I was told that applying vaseline around nostrils helped but never tried it. Not sure it would work for a baby though.

[Ruth_Baldock]

Hi Nikki;

I did ask my GP about the botulism link, and she said the risk was very small, and in this case it was safe for Lex. I think we're both clutching at straws until her allergy clinic referral goes through.

I can email you a photo of her rash of you like, so you can see if your little girl looks the same. It's on my iPhone and I couldn't uPload it here.

[Saffron]

RE botulism/biological contamination, I think that only applies to raw honey. But if the honey has been pasteurised, does that affect it's putative anti-allergy properties?

[Ruth_Baldock]

Saffron; I don't knooooooow :( I am a dunce. Watching Lex suffer like this is hellish though.

[Saffron]

I'm not sure anyone knows. I don't think there's a lot of analytical research available on it.

Is it worse when she's been outside?

Are you able to use topical antihistamines on her rash?

Hope it gets better soon. xx

[Ruth_Baldock]

Topical antihestimines don't make an iota of difference, poor Moo

:( her rash doesn't seem to both her but the eyes/nose/ cough definitely do...

[Ruth_Baldock]

Oh and rash is only ever present outside. Nose/eyes/cough present inside, worse outside though

[Saffron]

Did you apply the topicals before going out, or after the rash appeared?