Skip to main content
Switch Language
  • EN
  • FR
Home
  • PRODUCTS
    Claritin Family packshots
    • CLARITIN®
      • Tablets 24HR
      • Rapid Dissolve 24HR
      • Liquid Capsules 24HR
    • CLARITIN® ALLERGY + SINUS
      • Tablets 12HR
      • Tablets 24HR
    • CLARITIN® FOR KIDS
      • Claritin® Kids Syrup 24HR
      • Claritin® Kids Rapid Dissolve 24HR
    • CLARITIN ALLERGY DECONGESTANT
      • Claritin Allergy Decongestant Spray
  • ABOUT ALLERGIES
    Claritin Family packshots
    • ALLERGY BASICS
    • OUTDOOR SEASONAL ALLERGIES
    • INDOOR ALLERGIES
    • GLOSSARY
    • Outdoor Allergy Season Guide
  • LIVING WITH ALLERGIES
  • CHILDREN'S ALLERGIES
Claritin

Children’s ALLERGIES 101

Get a basic understanding of allergies, colds and how they both can affect your child.

What are allergies?

An allergy is an exaggerated reaction of your immune system . When your child comes into contact with these allergens, your child’s body confuses them with harmful substances and attacks them by releasing chemicals such as histamine into the body. This histamine causes your child to experience allergy symptoms like sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, runny nose, or itchy throat. Allergies are never contagious, but they often run in the family.

gray outline of clouds

Outdoor seasonal allergies versus indoor year-round allergies

Outdoor seasonal allergies describe allergies that can come and go as different plants like trees, grasses, or weeds come into season and release pollen into the air. These allergens can be difficult to manage because it seems like they’re everywhere and they’re difficult to avoid. For kids with seasonal allergies, symptoms fluctuate depending on the pollen released into the air by these plants. The pollen level can vary day to day, depending upon several factors, including the weather. Indoor allergies can occur any time of the year and are caused by allergens from dust mites , mould spores or pet dander. These allergens can be difficult to manage, especially since they tend to exist in our homes year-round. Since you’re often indoors during winter, your allergies to household allergens from moulds, dust mites, and pet dander can appear to be more active, but in truth indoor allergies can occur all year long.

gray outline of clouds

What are allergy symptoms?

Allergy symptoms happen when your child’s immune system mistakenly attacks a harmless substance like dust or pollen by releasing chemicals such as histamine . These symptoms can be very similar to classic cold symptoms, which is why it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate between the symptoms of a cold versus allergies.

In general, signs or symptoms of children's allergies may include:


RUNNY NOSE
With allergies, nasal discharge is usually thin, clear, and watery.

SNEEZING
(often several times in a row) Colds and allergies both cause sneezing.

ALLERGY EYE
Symptoms include irritated, red, itchy, or watery eyes.

MOUTH BREATHING
Can be caused by nasal congestion due to allergies or a cold.

NASAL CONGESTION
Nasal congestion is a stuffy nose due to swollen nasal passages.

gray outline of clouds

What is a cold?

Although allergies share many of the same symptoms as colds, colds are different. A cold occurs when a virus gets into your child’s body and his or her immune system attacks it — this causes some of the same sneezing and nasal congestion as the symptoms of allergies. But there are some key differences. For one thing, colds are contagious. A child can become infected when someone sneezes, coughs, or touches him or her.

Luckily, cold symptoms tend to disappear in 7 to 10 days. If cold symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, consider contacting your doctor.

YOU MAY LIKE

Claritin® Kids Syrup 24HR

Claritin® Kids Syrup - 24HR

This non-drowsy syrup has a great taste and is free of lactose, alcohol and dye.

LEARN MORE

FEATURED ARTICLES

Girl laughing while a puppy snuggles up to her

Managing Children's Allergies

LEARN MORE
smiling girl giving a bulldog a bath in the sink

Children's Indoor Allergies

LEARN MORE
father holding his smiling, young daughter in his arms

Children’s Outdoor Seasonal Allergies

LEARN MORE
Claritin footer logo
  • BAYER GLOBAL
  • FAQs
  • CONTACT US
  • PRODUCTS
    • Claritin®
    • Claritin® Allergy + Sinus
    • Claritin® for Kids
    • Claritin® Allergy Decongestant
  • ABOUT ALLERGIES
    • Allergy Basics
    • Outdoor Seasonal Allergies
    • Indoor Allergies
    • Glossary
  • LIVING WITH ALLERGIES
  • CHILDREN'S ALLERGIES

Copyright© 2020 Bayer. All rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. All trademarks are owned by Bayer, and its affiliates, or licensed for its use. 

To be sure this product is right for you, always read and follow the label. 

IMPORTANT NOTE 

This web-site is intended for informational purposes only and is in no way intended to substitute for professional medical advice, to contradict medical advice given, or for medical care of any kind. As with any medication, speak to your doctor before using. 

  • Bayer Canada
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Statement
  • Conditions of Use
  • Imprint
  • AdChoices
  • Report a Side Effect
  • Sitemap


L.CA.MKT.CC.03.2021.1870

The information on this site is intended for healthcare professionals in the United States and is not intended for the general public.

I am a Healthcare Professional

I am not a Healthcare Professional