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Sep 09, 2025By Dr. Shreya Karan
The problem of seasonal allergies in children in India is becoming a rising health issue. Although occasional sneezing, runny nose, or watery eyes are frequently referred to as a common cold, in truth, allergic rhinitis and other related disorders afflict many children. These environmental and seasonal-induced allergies may disrupt school performance, social participation, and even sleep quality.
The Indian Academy of Pediatrics states that allergic rhinitis occurs in approximately 10-20 percent of the Indian population, with children consuming a significant percentage. However, seasonal allergies in children in India are usually unnoticed or unaddressed because they are poorly understood and similar to viral infections. This blog will talk about the causes of seasonal allergies, useful prevention measures applicable to Indian families, and the fundamentals of treatment, including safe allergy medicine for kids in India.
Understanding Seasonal Allergies in Indian Children
Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, are an abnormality in the reaction of the immune system of the body in response to allergens like pollen, dust, or mold spores. The symptoms may include sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy or watery eyes, coughing, sore throat, and overall exhaustion. A viral infection can last a week, whereas allergic rhinitis can last weeks or even months, depending on the exposure to the allergen, and does not always come with a fever.
The environmental and climatic conditions are particularly susceptible to children in India. The environment in which the allergens proliferate is due to urbanization, increased concentrations of air pollution, and long-term contact with dust and biomass material that produce smoke.
Furthermore, pollen calendars are highly region-specific. For Delhi and Chandigarh, tree pollen peaks Feb-Apr, but grass peaks May-Jun and again Sep. In Bengaluru, grass pollen is high almost year-round except during the wettest monsoon weeks.
The monsoon is also the source of fungal development and mold spores, which also cause allergic reactions. Therefore, metropolitan cities (Delhi, Kolkata, or Bangalore) are characterized by a high pollution level and a drastic change in weather patterns, which often leads to an increased number of symptoms related to allergies in children.
Usual Triggers of Seasonal Allergies
The causes of seasonal allergies in children in India are both outside and indoor. These triggers can be understood to help parents implement some preventive measures at both the home and community levels.
Dust Mites
One of the most common indoor allergens in India is house dust mites. Mites thrive in warm and humid climates in mattresses, pillows, carpets, and soft toys.
Indian population studies have demonstrated that dust mite sensitization is positive in almost 70-75% of children with allergic rhinitis and asthma. This causes them to have the largest indoor allergic reactions.
Pollen
Pollen outside depends on the region and season. The pollen of trees and weeds such as Prosopis, Holoptelea, and Parthenium is heaviest at the beginning of spring, and grasses such as Bermuda grass and Cynodon produce pollen in autumn.
These seasons are favorable to children who spend more time outdoors: symptoms of sneezing, watery eyes, and nasal congestion are common in these months. The differences between the regions do matter. Children in the north of India may be hypersensitive to pollen on grass in the fall, while those in the south may be sensitive to fungal spores in the monsoon.
Fungal Spores and Mold
During monsoon and post-monsoon, the number of fungal spores multiplies. Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Cladosporium are usually involved in rhinitis allergy. Mold spores can be found in damp places of houses, bathrooms, and unventilated rooms, so fungal allergy becomes a serious issue in Indian households.
Pollution and Environmental Factors
Allergies are aggravated by air pollution. Traffic, biomass fuel burning, or industrial emissions can cause damage to the respiratory tract and increase susceptibility to allergens due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
Children in urban areas also face a twofold burden of exposure to pollution coupled with allergen sensitization. Incense sticks, mosquito coils, and indoor smoking also contribute to the load of allergens in houses.
Weather Transitions
Symptoms are worsened by sudden changes in weather when the season shifts. Pediatricians in cities such as Kolkata say that, in times of monsoon and transition seasons, the difference between a virus and an allergy is usually not very clear, as the two conditions share similarities such as cough, runny nose, and congestion. But the lack of fever and continuing morning sneezing are more indicators of allergies than an infection.
Effects of Seasonal Allergies in Children
Seasonal allergies in Indian children are not just inconveniences. In children, they may cause serious health and lifestyle problems. Nasal congestion results in poor sleep that causes fatigue and irritability during the day and a lack of concentration in school.
Research has indicated that allergic rhinitis is associated with poor performance of children in school because of cognitive disability and absenteeism. In other instances, allergic rhinitis without treatment leads to asthma, which is a more severe chronic disease. Children who have to cope with continuous sneezing or watery eyes might also experience social embarrassment or a less active involvement in outdoor play, psychologically. That is why it is vital to identify and control allergies at an early stage.
The best way to minimize the effects of allergies is through prevention. There are a few measures that parents can implement to reduce exposure to allergens in children.
Environmental Control
- Wash bedding once a week with hot water to kill the dust mites.
- Apply pillow and mattress covers that are allergen-free.
- When possible, maintain humidity at or below 50 percent, either with dehumidifiers or good ventilation.
- Children should not have carpets, heavy curtains, and stuffed toys in their bedrooms because they trap dust.
Pollen Management
- Shut doors and windows when there is a lot of pollen.
- Minimize outdoor play during early mornings as well as evenings when the pollen is at its peak.
- Bathe children and change clothes when they go out and back to eliminate the pollen particles.
Mold and Fungal Control
- Fix water leaks as soon as possible and keep bathrooms open.
- Wipe wet places with disinfectant to avoid fungal growth.
- They should periodically dry mattresses and pillows in humid areas using the sun.
Pollution Management
- Check the quality of the air every day using mobile applications and avoid going outside during poor days with AQI.
- Wear properly fitting masks when the air is polluted.
- Do not burn incense sticks and mosquito coils in the rooms of children.
School and Community Awareness
The management of allergy does not stop at home. Schools also need to make changes to ensure that classrooms are dust-free, outdoor sports are avoided on high pollen days, and they have the capacity to accommodate asthma or extremely allergic young children.
Diagnosis of Periodic Allergies
Diagnosis will be important in differentiating between allergies and frequent infections. Pediatricians usually depend on history, symptom patterns, and physical examination. In cases where it is necessary, skin prick tests or blood tests to determine allergen-specific IgE are conducted.
Skin prick testing is inexpensive, reasonably safe, and common in India. It assists in determining certain allergens, such as dust mites, pollens, or fungal spores, that cause the symptoms in the child. Nevertheless, ignorance, cost, and access to specialized clinics continue to impede early diagnosis among most Indian families.
Basics of Treatment and Allergy Medicine in India Among Kids
The treatment of seasonal allergies in children in India is usually step-wise, that is, avoiding triggers, then adding allergy medicine in India, followed by immunotherapy in some cases.
1. Second-generation oral antihistamines
- Commonly used brands/generics: cetirizine, levocetirizine, loratadine, desloratadine, fexofenadine.
- Advantages: once-daily dosing, minimal sedation, no negative impact on school performance.
- Caveats: mild drowsiness occurs in ≈10% of children; avoid combining with other sedatives.
- Dosing: weight- or age-based; always confirm with a paediatrician before starting or adjusting the dose.
2. Intranasal corticosteroid sprays
- Examples: mometasone, fluticasone, budesonide.
- Indication: moderate-to-severe persistent allergic rhinitis—best drug class for congestion.
- How to use: once daily per nostril for ≥2–4 weeks for full effect; correct spray technique is essential.
- Safety: well tolerated; possible local irritation or mild epistaxis; growth should be monitored in prolonged use.
- Must be initiated and followed up by a physician.
3. Rapid-relief topical antihistamines
- Intranasal: azelastine (alone or in fixed-dose combo with fluticasone).
- Ocular: olopatadine, ketotifen or epinastine eye drops for itchy/watery eyes.
- Onset: within minutes; useful for breakthrough or predominantly ocular symptoms.
- Side-effects: transient bitter taste (nasal) or local stinging (ocular).
4. Leukotriene-receptor antagonist
- Drug: montelukast (chewable tablets or granules).
- Role: add-on for children who have both allergic rhinitis and mild asthma or for rhinitis not fully controlled with the above drugs.
- Warnings: boxed neuro-psychiatric warning (sleep disturbance, mood changes, rarely suicidality); use only under strict medical supervision.
5. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (when medicines + avoidance fail)
- Options:
SCIT – subcutaneous injections in an allergy clinic.
SLIT – daily allergen tablets/drops kept under the tongue.
- Common Indian extracts: house-dust-mite, grass pollens, Parthenium weed.
- Course: 3–5 years; not usually started in children <5 years or those with uncontrolled asthma.
- Benefits: long-term disease modification and possible prevention of new sensitizations.
- Must be prescribed and administered by a trained allergist; observe the child 30 min after each SCIT injection for anaphylaxis.
General reminder: All medications and immunotherapy decisions should be taken in consultation with a qualified paediatrician or paediatric allergist; never self-medicate.
Final Thoughts
Seasonal allergies in children in India are no longer just minor annoyances; they become important health concerns that can impact education, overall health, and long-term respiratory well-being.
Parents can alleviate the burden of seasonal allergies through preventive measures at home and in schools, appropriate diagnosis by pediatricians, and access to safe and effective allergy medicine in children in India.
For more insightful thoughts on diseases affecting children, take a look at our website, TheParentZ.com. It's filled with helpful resources about parenting, family life, and child development. Plus, don't forget to explore our TheParentZ App, your all-in-one companion to effortlessly keep track of your child's health.
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