Hay fever

What is hay fever?

Hay fever is the common name given to allergic rhinitis, a condition that results in cold-like symptoms such as itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, and nasal disturbances from blockages to itchiness. It normally only happens during certain times of the year.

The incidence of hay fever is at its peak when there’s a high concentration of pollen in the air, usually between late March and September. But it can also be triggered by dust mites (which can cause symptoms all year round).

There’s no cure for hay fever, but there are a few different options you can try, as well as ways to try and avoid it. For example, if your hay fever is caused by dust mites, you can make a few changes in your living space to try and reduce the severity of your symptoms Avoiding evaporative coolers, investing in a dehumidifier, and switching any upholstered furniture with plastic, wood, vinyl, or leather are things which can help.

Who gets hay fever?

Anyone can get hay fever, but some people are more likely to experience it than others. But the reason for this is yet to be fully discovered; clinicians have studied hay fever for a long time, but they still don’t fully understand the reasons why some people are more prone to it.

Studies have shown that exposure to certain irritants during childhood, namely second-hand cigarette smoke, can play a role. ^[1] Genetics is also thought to be involved in the development of hay fever. If you have a family history of allergies, of any kind, you might be more likely to develop hay fever.

These factors don’t guarantee that you will have hay fever at any point in your life, and hay fever isn’t limited to people in these risk groups. You might not have a family history of hay fever and you might not have been around cigarette smoke at all as a child, but you can still develop the condition.

How common is hay fever?

Hay fever is very common. Its prevalence, based on diagnosis, is around 15%, but it’s thought to be as high as 30% based on people who show symptoms but don’t seek a diagnosis. ^[2]

Hay fever is also the most common paediatric condition, but children are more prone to get seasonal hay fever, whilst adults are more prone to develop chronic hay fever. ^[2]

What causes hay fever?

Hay fever is a type of allergy, and it’s caused by a response from your immune system to what it perceives as a threat, even though it’s not. In the case of hay fever, your immune system thinks that pollen and/or dust mites are a threat so it responds like it would to a virus.

Symptoms of hay fever occur when your body produces histamine in order to protect your body against this perceived threat. The role of treatment with antihistamines is to curb this process and reduce or get rid of your symptoms.

Hay fever can also co-occur with asthma, and it’s a risk factor for asthma too, so there are links between the two. Your airways may experience continuous inflammation and this can lead to chronic hay fever. ^[1]

What are the symptoms of hay fever?

The symptoms of hay fever can vary greatly in severity, but most people will experience the same set of symptoms. These include, but are not limited to:

• sneezing
• watery and itchy eyes (this can compromise vision so it can get in the way of your routine)
• itchy throat which results in coughing, that is sometimes hard to control
• blocked, runny, and/or itchy nose

Less common symptoms include:

• sweating
• loss of smell and/or taste
• headaches
• pain caused by blocked sinuses
• itchiness in the ears

If you’re struggling with particularly strong symptoms of hay fever, you should seek medical assistance. Our clinicians will be able to advise you on the best course of treatment for your individual health needs and monitor your progress to make sure you don’t need a different medication or dosage.

Can hay fever lead to other problems?

Hay fever can lead to both long-term and short-term complications such as sleep disturbances, constant fatigue, a decrease in cognitive abilities and learning abilities, and an overall lower quality of life.

Hay fever can also contribute towards or even directly cause other medical conditions such as acute or chronic sinusitis, hearing impairment, ear infections, and sleep apnoea. ^[2]

Hay fever can also put you at a higher risk of developing asthma. People who develop both conditions can treat them together with a leukotriene inhibitor such as Montelukast.^[3] If you’re struggling with hay fever in conjunction with asthma symptoms, you should contact our clinicians so they can advise you on the best course of treatment.