While we tend to associate hay fever with spring, autumn is also a time to be wary of for children. Spring pollen mainly comes from familiar trees like cedar and cypress, but autumn pollen is primarily from common grasses like ragweed, mugwort, and nettles. These are all abundant in places where children play, such as parks and riverbanks, and because they are short grasses, children are more likely to inhale pollen than adults. And it's not just pollen. Autumn is the season when large quantities of dead dust mites accumulate after their peak reproduction period in the hot and humid summer. There are dangers indoors too!

Even adults find pollen-induced itching extremely unpleasant, and it's just as bad for children. While adults may be able to tolerate it, children tend to rub their eyes vigorously when they feel itchy, which can have adverse effects on their eyes. When the itching is severe, even adults may want to wash their eyes repeatedly, but excessive washing can dry out the eyes, so it's recommended to use eye drops instead.