Rather, the tendency for kids on decongestants to experience irritability or sleeplessness is a more practical concern. If you decide to use a decongestant for your child, pseudoephedrine gives better relief with fewer side effects. These may be a great option for a night or two while another strategy is beginning to work, but are a poor choice for beating the effects of the allergy season. A ntihistamines reduce allergy symptoms by blocking the action of the histamine released by mast cells in response to allergic triggers such as pollen. Of far greater concern is the effect of antihistamines on thinking and learning.
Children are better off congested than drugged.
I do not recommend them, however, as a long-term solution. Antihistamines are found in almost all allergy preparations that are not specifically advertised as non-drowsy. Chlorpheniramine and brompheniramine both are a little less potent but have fewer side effects. Nasalcrom is a nasal spray that creates a protective barrier around the allergy cells in the nose so that pollen, mold, dust , and animal dander can't stick to them. It doesn't reverse allergy symptoms that are already present, but prevents new allergen exposures from causing symptoms .