Hayfever, is a reaction to pollen and particles in the air. It is also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis. Every person with hayfever has slightly different symptoms. It depends what type of pollen they react to. Common symptoms include a blocked nose, sneezing, and watery itchy eyes.

What causes hayfever and who can get it?

Hayfever is a very common allergy. It can affect anyone and around 9 million people in the UK suffer from it.

As different plants come into flower at different times, different types of pollen are released throughout the year:

The hayfever season usually begins with the release of pollen by trees. This can start as early as February and continue to late May.

Most people with hayfever are allergic to grass pollens, which appear between May and September.

Later in the year, from summer into autumn, levels of weed pollen can cause problems.

The worst months for hayfever sufferers are usually June and July.

What are the signs and symptoms of hayfever?

The main symptoms of hayfever are:

• Repeated sneezing attacks
• Runny or itchy nose
• Itchy or watery eyes
• An itchy throat, palate and ears
• Loss of concentration
• Generally feeling unwell (hence hay 'fever')

How is hayfever normally diagnosed and treated?

If you think you have hayfever, your doctor can usually make a diagnosis from your symptoms. Especially if you can tell them what times of the day or year you get them.

Most people with hayfever take medicines to help them through the season. There are lots of different types of treatment available – tablets, nasal sprays, eye drops, creams.

The main treatments are:

• Antihistamines – These come as tablets, a nasal spray or eye drops. They stop the effects of histamines. Histamines are the substances released by your body during an allergic reaction. They cause the symptoms of hayfever. If you know roughly when your symptoms try to start taking antihistamines three weeks before.
• Steroids – Available as a nasal spray or drops steroids can help to calm down inflammation of your nose or eyes.
• Nasal washes and eye drops – These can really help to clear stuffy noses and itchy eyes. You can get them easily from your local pharmacy.
• Decongestants – If you suffer from a block nose a short sharp dose of decongestant from a nasal spray can help you to breathe more easily. They shouldn’t be used all the time because they can end up making the problem worse.
• Desensitisation – This is a vaccine against pollen. It involves a long course of injections that contain very small amounts of pollen. This helps your body to learn to deal with pollen without reacting to it.

Most of these medicines are available over the counter from your local chemist. If your hayfever is very bad your doctor may suggest desensitisation.

Keeping an eye on pollen levels (known as the pollen count) and finding out how to minimise your exposure to pollen are also important when dealing with hayfever.

Symptoms of hayfever usually start when the pollen count goes over 50.

What’s going to help?

If you suffer from hayfever there are lots of things you can do to try to reduce your exposure to pollen:

• Watch the pollen count. You can find UK pollen counts at bbc.co.uk/weather.
• Avoid going outside when it's humid and windy or when pollen counts are very high. Counts are highest in the early morning and evening.
• Keep windows closed when the pollen count is high.
• Protect your eyes from pollen with wrap around sunglasses.
• Keep car windows shut if you can.
• Don't put washing out to dry if counts are high. Pollen can get trapped on your clothes and sheets.
• A good tip is to pop a little bit of Vaseline just inside your nostrils to stop the pollen travelling up your nose.
• Hoover regularly, pollen can live indoors for up to three months!
• Before you go to bed, have a shower to get rid of any pollen caught on your body or in your hair.

Looking forward

Most people with hayfever find a medicine that suits them. This makes it easier to deal with hayfever and it’s symptoms every year.

For more help and information

If you would like to know more about hayfever, please ask your doctor.

Allergy UK

Last reviewed by Great Ormond Street Hospital: 10 September 2007

Copyright © Great Ormond Street Hospital