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Key points
- Hay fever is an allergy to pollen from trees, grass or weeds.
- Symptoms are usually worst between late March and September, especially on warm, humid and windy days.
- Simple steps, such as showering after being outside, help keep pollen away.
- A pharmacist can recommend antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays. See a GP if they do not help.
What is hay fever?
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen. When someone with hay fever breathes in pollen, their immune system treats it as a threat and releases chemicals such as histamine, which cause the familiar symptoms. Allergy UK explains that different types of pollen are released at different times: tree pollen in spring, grass pollen in summer and weed pollen in autumn. Many people react to more than one.
The NHS says symptoms are usually worse between late March and September, especially when it is warm, humid and windy.
What are the symptoms of hay fever?
The NHS lists symptoms including sneezing and coughing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy, red or watery eyes, and an itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears. Some people lose their sense of smell, or get headaches, pain around their forehead and the sides of their head, and tiredness.
Hay fever can also affect sleep, concentration and energy, which can make work and everyday life harder during peak season.
How is hay fever different from a cold?
They can feel similar, but there are some clues. Hay fever often causes itchy eyes and does not usually cause a high temperature. The NHS notes that hay fever can last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after 1 to 2 weeks.
How can you reduce your symptoms?
There is no cure for hay fever, and you cannot avoid pollen completely. But the NHS suggests simple steps that can help, such as putting petroleum jelly around your nostrils to trap pollen, wearing wraparound sunglasses, a mask or a wide-brimmed hat, showering and changing your clothes after being outside, and keeping windows and doors shut as much as possible.
Checking the Met Office pollen forecast can help you plan ahead on days when the pollen count is high.
What treatments can help?
A pharmacist can help you choose a treatment. The NHS says options include antihistamine tablets, drops or nasal sprays, and steroid nasal sprays, which can help with a blocked or runny nose. If you know when your symptoms usually start, ask your pharmacist about starting treatment a little earlier.
Can hay fever affect asthma?
Yes, it can. Allergy UK says people with allergic rhinitis, the medical name for hay fever, are at a higher risk of developing asthma. If you have asthma, pollen can make your symptoms worse, so make sure you keep up with your asthma treatment and speak to your GP or asthma nurse if your symptoms change during pollen season.
When should you see a GP?
See a GP if your symptoms are getting worse, or if they do not improve after taking medicines from the pharmacy. Your GP can suggest other treatments, and in some cases refer you to a specialist.
Common questions
When is hay fever season in the UK?
The NHS says hay fever symptoms are usually worse between late March and September. Tree pollen is released in spring, grass pollen in summer and weed pollen in autumn.
What is the best treatment for hay fever?
It depends on your symptoms. A pharmacist can recommend antihistamine tablets, drops or nasal sprays, or a steroid nasal spray for a blocked or runny nose. See a GP if these do not help.
Can hay fever cause a high temperature?
Hay fever does not usually cause a high temperature. If you have a fever, it is more likely to be a cold or another infection.
Sources
- Hay fever. NHS.
- Hay fever and allergic rhinitis. Allergy UK.
- Pollen forecast. Met Office.
