Hay fever doesn't affect children's sleep or concentration

What the research found

The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne's family fact sheet says hay fever can make it harder for a child to sleep. It also says hay fever can affect a child's ability to concentrate and learn. It lists these as things that happen in some cases, not in every child.

The hospital's guide for health professionals lists poor sleep, daytime fatigue and poor concentration as clues that a child may have allergic rhinitis. It also lists snoring, persistent mouth breathing and night-time coughing. It notes that symptoms from dust mite allergy are often worse at night or early in the morning.

A US clinical practice guideline from 2015 describes allergic rhinitis as the most common chronic disease in children in the United States. It says the condition can impair quality of life and lead to lost school attendance. The abstract does not measure sleep or concentration directly.

What it doesn’t mean

• This does not mean every child with hay fever sleeps badly or struggles at school. The guidance says these effects happen in some cases.
• The guidance here is mostly descriptive and does not give figures on how often sleep or concentration problems occur. Poor sleep and tiredness can also have many other causes.
• If your child's sleep or schoolwork seems affected, or symptoms continue despite treatment, talk to your GP. The hospital guidance says nasal steroid sprays are the first-line treatment, and your GP can advise on this.