Ten questions to ask your GP about childhood allergies

Your child’s doctor is a vital resource for all your questions about allergies in children. Yet it is easy to forget the important things when you are in the GP’s surgery. Here is a list of key questions to ask about allergies in children. Print it and take it to your child’s next appointment. 

1. How do you know my child has nasal allergies? How can you confirm the diagnosis?
2. What are the best over-the-counter or prescription medicines for my child, and what side effects should I watch out for?
3. Does my child need further allergy testing or other allergy treatment? Are allergy injections (immunotherapy) available?
4. Is there anything else I should be doing to help control the allergies, such as dusting the house more often or taking other environmental measures?
5. If my child develops a cough, especially at night, could that be related to nasal allergies?
6. How can I tell the difference between my child having allergy symptoms and having a cold?
7. We have pets. Do they make treating allergies more difficult?
8. Should my child carry an adrenaline injector pen or wear a medical alert bracelet?
9. Which allergy symptoms are serious enough to make an appointment to see the doctor?
10. At what point should my child be referred to a hospital specialist for allergy treatment?