When school starts this fall, homework and pop quizzes may not be the only reasons some children will feel like staying home.   Sneezing, runny noses, and other allergy symptoms could cramp the school spirit of up to 40 percent of American kids.

Fall is not only back-to-school season, it's also a peak allergy season and allergies cause up to 2 million missed school days each year.  Making matters worse is that treating allergies with certain medications may cause bothersome drowsiness or jitteriness.  Dana Reeve, actress, mother and wife of Christopher Reeve, talks about her stepson's experience:

"Sometimes I wouldn't treat Matthew's symptoms because I was afraid of the medications' side effects.  I didn't want him to feel groggy or jittery in class.  Our doctor recommended Claritin(R) for effective non-drowsy, non-jittery relief - so Matthew could feel like a kid again.  Now that 24-Hour Children's Claritin(R) is available over the counter, moms don't have to worry that their child's allergy medication will wear off during the school day and kids don't have to miss school due to their symptoms."

Children have enough problems concentrating in school without having to deal with disruptive allergy symptoms.  Many doctors recommend treating children's allergies with a non-drowsy medication so kids don't have to miss school due to symptoms.

For more information on how to treat your child's allergies, talk to your pharmacist or go to w-w-w-dot-claritin-dot-com.