Hay fever
Overview
Hay fever is a common allergy that causes sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes. You cannot cure it, but there are things you can do to help your symptoms, or medicines you can take to help.
Symptoms
Symptoms of hay fever include: sneezing and coughinga runny or blocked noseitchy, red or watery eyesitchy throat, mouth, nose and earsloss of smellpain around the sides of your head and your foreheadheadachefeeling tired Symptoms are usually worse between late March and September, especially when it's warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest. Hay fever can last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after 1 to 2 weeks.
Causes
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to the fine powder that plants produce, called pollen, usually when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes and throat.
Treatment
There's currently no cure for hay fever and you cannot prevent it. But you can do things to ease your symptoms when the pollen count is high. put petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) around your nostrils to trap pollen put petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) around your nostrils to trap pollen wear wraparound sunglasses, a mask or a wide-brimmed hat to stop pollen getting into your nose and eyes wear wraparound sunglasses, a mask or a wide-brimmed hat to stop pollen getting into your nose and eyes shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off keep windows and doors shut as much as possible keep windows and doors shut as much as possible vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth try to use a pollen filter in the air vents of your car, if you have one, and a HEPA filter in your vacuum cleaner try to use a pollen filter in the air vents of your car, if you have one, and a HEPA filter in your vacuum cleaner do not cut grass or walk on grass do not cut grass or walk on grass do not spend too much time outside do not spend too much time outside do not keep fresh flowers in the house do not keep fresh flowers in the house do not smoke or be around smoke – it makes your symptoms worse do not smoke or be around smoke – it makes your symptoms worse do not dry clothes outside – they can catch pollen do not dry clothes outside – they can catch pollen do not let pets into the house if possible – they can carry pollen indoors do not let pets into the house if possible – they can carry pollen indoors In this video, a pharmacist explains how to treat hay fever. The GP might prescribe a steroid treatment if you have hay fever. If steroids and other hay fever treatments do not work, the GP may refer you for immunotherapy. This means you'll be given small amounts of pollen as an injection or tablet to slowly build up your immunity to pollen. This kind of treatment usually starts a few months before the hay fever season begins.
Prevention
Check pollen count; stay indoors when high; wear wraparound sunglasses; keep windows shut; shower after being out.
When to see a doctor
See GP if: symptoms worsening; OTC meds not working; wheezing (asthma link).