Cold or hay fever?
Especially with children who may have hay fever for the first time, it is not immediately obvious whether it is a normal cold or hay fever. However, normal colds should subside after a few days. During this period, the nasal mucus sometimes becomes greenish and viscous. In addition, other symptoms often occur, such as a sore throat, cough or even a high temperature. Not so with hay fever. The nasal discharge here remains watery for weeks and does not change color.
What can I do about hay fever?
If hay fever occurs for the first time, consult a dermatologist or allergist. It is not recommended to treat hay fever on its own, although there are many over-the-counter medicines. Otherwise there is a risk that the allergy will drop one level over the years and also put a strain on the bronchi. And that can have a long-term impact on your health.
Stiftung Warentest tested various over-the-counter medicines in April 2016. Medicines are classified as recommended if their effectiveness has been proven by significant studies and if their benefits outweigh the risks. The following forms of drugs have been studied: eye drops, nasal sprays, combination packs, tablets, and juices. But apart from medicines, there are also small ones measurements in everyday lifewhich give a lot of relief to allergy sufferers.
In our picture gallery we show you what you can do every day and what medicines adults and children can take if they are not enough.
Reading tip: Here you can find out everything you need to know about hay fever in babies.
