Paediatric Allergic Rhinitis: A Clinical Case — Does Your Child Develop a Blocked Nose and Sneezing Whenever the Seasons Change?
Date: 2026-06-26

Patient: A 7-year-old girl.

Main concern: Since she was just over one year old, she had experienced a runny nose, sneezing and nasal congestion whenever the seasons changed.

Whenever the weather changed, she would begin rubbing her nose and sounding increasingly nasal. Exposure to cold air or dust could quickly trigger another episode.

Her parents initially assumed that the problem was hereditary. However, the only similar history in the family was her father occasionally experiencing mild sensitivity after reaching adulthood.

They had previously tried dietary supplements such as cordyceps powder, but the improvement was limited and the symptoms continued to recur.

🔍 Practitioner’s Observation

For children with nasal allergies that flare during seasonal changes, the underlying concern may not be limited to the nose itself.

From a Chinese Medicine perspective, these children may have relatively weak Lung and Spleen function, while their immune and defensive systems are still developing.

Common signs may include a pale complexion, low energy, a smaller appetite, a runny nose after exposure to cold, and sneezing when exposed to wind.

In recent years, many children have had less contact with natural outdoor environments. After returning to school, some may respond more strongly to cold air, dust and other environmental triggers, resulting in a large reaction to a relatively minor stimulus.

Chinese Medicine considers repeated episodes more likely to occur when external triggers are combined with insufficient internal resistance.

✨ Treatment Focus

1. Herbal acupoint patch therapy — strengthening the body’s underlying resilience
  • Acupoint patches were applied approximately twice a month to provide gentle warming support.
  • Treatment focused on supporting Lung and Spleen function.
  • The aim was to reduce excessive respiratory sensitivity to cold air, wind and dust.
2. Chinese herbal treatment — different approaches during flare-ups and stable periods
  • During a flare-up: Treatment focused on easing sensitivity to wind, supporting the Lung and opening the nasal passages to relieve a runny nose, sneezing and congestion.
  • During stable periods: Treatment shifted towards supporting digestion, replenishing energy and strengthening the child’s overall constitution to improve resistance and reduce future recurrence.
3. Dietary and lifestyle adjustments — building resilience through daily habits
  • Reduce sweet and chilled foods, as well as iced drinks.
  • Include more foods traditionally used to support digestion, such as Chinese yam, fox nuts and hyacinth beans.
  • Maintain a regular daily routine and include an appropriate amount of outdoor activity each day.

After approximately six months of consistent treatment and lifestyle support, the child experienced fewer flare-ups during seasonal changes.

Her night-time nasal congestion also improved, while her sleep, energy and overall wellbeing became more stable.

👨‍⚕️ Practitioner’s Advice

“Nasal allergies are not always something a child is simply born with.

In many cases, they are the body’s way of showing that its natural defence system is not yet strong enough.”

Managing nasal allergies is not only about stopping sneezing and a runny nose.

It also involves gradually supporting the child’s constitution and strengthening Lung and digestive function.

Over time, this can help the child’s natural resistance become more stable and better able to respond to environmental changes.

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