Hay Fever and Allergic Rhinitis

Please see our free downloadable Factsheets at bottom of this page for more information about respiratory allergies caused by pollen and moulds in the garden, house dust mites, pets and more.

What is hay fever?

Hay fever is a common allergic reaction which occurs at particular times of the year. It is known as seasonal rhinitis, sharing symptoms with perennial (year round) allergic rhinitis, but occurring as a reaction to pollen from grass, trees and weeds during the early spring and summer months. It can affect both adults and children.

What causes hay fever?

It is caused when the body makes allergic antibodies (IgE) to certain substances, such as pollen, house dust mites or mould, which are known as allergens.

Grass pollen is the most common allergen (May to July), but tree (February to June) and weed (June to September) pollens can also cause the allergic reaction we know as hay fever. In perennial allergic rhinitis the symptoms continue all year round and usually relate to indoor allergens, such as house dust mites, pets, including birds, or moulds.

Did you know...

Hay fever and allergic rhinitis is the one of the most common form of non-infectious rhinitis, affecting...

up to 30%
of adults
(Pawankar R, et al, 2013)
and up to 40%
of children
(Pawankar R, et al, 2013)
Causing 16.7m
GP visits occur annually
(Pawankar R, et al, 2013)

What are the symptoms?

Itchy eyes/ throat
Sneezing, blocked/runny nose
Watering, red eyes (allergic conjunctivitis)
Headaches, blocked sinuses
Shortness of breath
Tiredness
The sensation of mucus running down the back of the throat, which can also be a symptom, is called ‘post-nasal drip’.

These symptoms may become more severe when the pollen count is high.

What hay fever medications could I use?

The treatments prescribed for allergy control the symptoms and reactions; they do not cure the condition. Find out more about treatments from our Factsheet.

Antihistamines are probably the best known type of allergy medication, and most are readily available from a pharmacy without prescription. However, there are a number of different types of antihistamines; some have been used for many years, some are improvements on old drugs, and new antihistamines are being developed all the time. While antihistamines used to have a reputation for making people drowsy, more modern antihistamines only occasionally have those side effects. These can be used on their own for mild hay fever or in combination with an intranasal steroid spray for moderate to severe symptoms You can find out more about how antihistamines work on our ‘Allergy Medications’ Factsheet.

Greg's Story

Click here to view Greg’s story, an inspirational video from one of our amazing supporters on hay fever and the effects it can have on an individual’s daily routine and social life.

How do I manage hay fever?

These unpleasant and sometimes debilitating symptoms can be relieved by avoidance of the allergic triggers and the use of antihistamines. Find our 3 top tips below:

Monitor pollen forecasts daily and stay indoors wherever possible when the count is high (generally on warmer, dry days). Rain washes pollen from the air so counts should be lower on cooler, wet days
On high pollen days, shower and wash your hair after arriving home and change your clothing
Avoid drying washing on a clothes-line outside when pollen counts are high
Apply an effective allergen barrier balm around the edge of each nostril to trap or block pollens and other allergens and help prevent a reaction.

For more detailed information about hay fever and for more useful tips on management and treatment, please find further useful resources below.

Allergic eye disease

Allergic conjunctivitis can be seasonal or all year round (perennial). For most of those affected seasonally the symptoms are part of their hay fever and the cause is the same – grass, tree, and weed or shrub pollen.

Symptoms

Itching eyes
Burning, watering and redness of the eyes
Puffiness of the eyelids

Perennial allergic conjunctivitis is usually a reaction to house dust mite or pets in the indoor environment.

For more information on diagnosis and management of allergic eye disease please see our Factsheet.

Sam's Story

Sam is nine years old and has been living with Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (a rare type of allergic eye disease). Sam also has asthma, and between the ages of one and four was admitted several times to hospital via the emergency department.

Pollens and moulds

Of all airborne allergens that we breathe in outdoors, pollens and mould spores are the most common and problematic. Typical hay fever symptoms are a runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, and a feeling of nasal congestion.

Gardens can be designed to reduce exposure to allergens like pollen and moulds. The first principle of treating allergy is avoidance. Total avoidance by staying indoors is not a realistic option, but reducing contact with allergens is possible, particularly where gardens are enclosed.

Pollen levels are at their highest at the beginning of the day, when they rise with the warming air, and at the end of the day when it’s cooling down.