What is the difference between hay fever and a cold in children and advice for easing symptoms from doctors

A child sneezing into a tissue whilst standing outside in a green space during summer, suggesting she has hay fever as seasonality is a key difference between hay fever and a cold.

Knowing the difference between hay fever and a cold can help you identify your child’s symptoms and get them the right treatment.

According to Allergy UK, between 10-15% of children and 26% of adults in the UK have hay fever to some degree. Hay fever can affect babies as well as young children too, but spotting hay fever in children isn’t always easy, and Margaret Kelman, Research Nurse and Head of Clinical Services for Allergy UK, explained to GoodTo that hay fever symptoms in children are often missed because they are, "similar to those of a common cold".