Hay fever
Hay fever
Overview
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Hay fever is a common allergic condition. You’ll experience hay fever symptoms if you have an allergic reaction to pollen which is released by plants.
Hay fever self-help guide
Advice for people aged 5 years or more with the symptoms of hay fever.
Complete the hay fever self-help guide to check your symptoms and find out what to do next.
Common Symptoms
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
Causes
What causes hay fever?
Hay fever happens because of an allergic reaction to pollen.
Pollen is a fine powder that plants release as part of their reproductive cycle. It contains proteins that can make the nose, eyes, throat and sinuses swollen, irritated and inflamed.
You can be allergic to:
- tree pollen, released during spring
- grass pollen, released at the end of spring and the start of summer
- weed pollen, released in late autumn
Who is most at risk of hay fever?
Anyone can get hay fever. It usually starts in childhood or the teenage years.
You are more likely to develop hay fever if allergies run in your family, especially asthma or eczema.
Many people find their symptoms get better as they grow older.
Treatment
There's no permanent cure for hay fever, but most people can ease their symptoms with the right treatment.
Treatment options for hay fever include:
- antihistamines, which help prevent an allergic reaction
- corticosteroids (steroids), which help reduce inflammation and swelling
Many hay fever medicines are available over-the-counter.
Contact your GP practice if your hay fever symptoms:
- are getting worse
- do not improve after taking over-the-counter medicines
Complications
Complications of hay fever
Hay fever can sometimes affect your quality of life. For example, very severe hay fever may disrupt your productivity at school or work.
Inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis) is a common complication of hay fever. Children may also develop a middle ear infection (otitis media) as a result of hay fever.
If you’re worried about these conditions, speak to your GP practice.
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