Hay Fever

Hay fever is an allergic condition that affects people with an allergy to pollen (a fine powder that plants release during their reproductive cycle). Pollen contains proteins that can irritate the nose, eyes, throat, and sinuses, which causes them to become irritated, inflamed and/or swollen.

Some people may find that hay fever gets less severe as they get older. Around 50% of people say that symptoms improve after a few years, while 10-20% of people report that symptoms disappear completely over time.

In 2014-15 almost 20% of Australians suffered from hay fever. That is equivalent to nearly 4.5 million people. Those aged 15-59 are most likely to suffer hay fever, rather than children or the elderly. 10% of children aged 6-7 years suffer hay fever, compared to 17% of 13-14-year-olds.

Different plants pollinate at different times. Trees pollinate in late winter and early spring, followed by grasses and weeds from August to May.

Those in inland areas will experience a higher pollen count as there are no natural barriers to pollen that is dispersed by the wind. The east coast of Australia has a lower pollen count due to prevailing sea winds and the Great Dividing Range. In all areas prevailing winds influence the pollen count.

In northern coastal areas the main grasses are subtropical and flower in January, February, and March, while the main grasses in the south of the country flower from October-December.

If you have hay fever you may experience the following symptoms:

• Frequent sneezing
• Blocked or runny nose
• Itchy, red eyes
• Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
• Coughing

The following are less common symptoms:

• Reduced sense of smell
• Facial pain caused by blocked sinuses
• Headaches
• Earache
• Tiredness
• Fatigue

The symptoms may be relatively mild, but they can still interfere with sleep patterns and daily life.

Hay fever is caused by an allergic reaction to pollen. Symptoms are likely to be worse if the pollen count is high.

The pollen count is a measure of how many grains of pollen are in every cubic metre of air. A pollen forecast is used to warn hay fever sufferers about the pollen count for the day. Hay fever symptoms usually occur when the pollen count is more than 50. In spring and summer, you will hear the pollen count announced as part of weather forecasts.

When pollen comes into contact with your mouth, eyes, nose, and throat it may irritate them. This provokes an allergic reaction and causes symptoms.

During an allergic reaction your body behaves as if it is being attacked. This means that the immune system releases chemicals designed to stop what it thinks to be an infection. These chemicals are responsible for causing symptoms.

If you feel like you are suffering from hay fever, you can normally treat most cases with over-the-counter medication. Ask your pharmacist about appropriate treatments.

In severe cases you may need to make an appointment with your doctor. This is usually only necessary if over-the-counter medications are ineffective, or you suffer side effects after using them. It may also be necessary if you have hay fever complications, such as sinusitis or worsening asthma symptoms.

Tests may also be necessary if your hay fever doesn't follow normal patterns. If you experience symptoms during winter or only in certain places you may need to be tested for other allergies.

Your doctor should be able to diagnose hay fever by listening to your symptoms. You can help your doctor make a diagnosis by recording when and where you experience symptoms.

If you have symptoms all year round, you may be given an allergy test. This may be a skin prick test or a blood test.

Try treating hay fever using over-the-counter medicines that you can pick up from a local pharmacist. There are lots of options available, including antihistamines.

If symptoms don't improve, make an appointment with your doctor. You might be prescribed medication such as nasal steroids (corticosteroids).

Antihistamines work by preventing the chemical histamine from working. Histamine is released by the body when it thinks there is an allergen present. The medication is effective in treating some symptoms, but will not clear a blocked nose.

You can get antihistamines as a tablet, nasal spray or eye drops. They can be used when you notice that hay fever symptoms are developing, or as a preventative measure when there is a high pollen count.

Corticosteroids are effective in treating hay fever because they act as an anti-inflammatory. They are generally used when antihistamines do not have the desired effect. Corticosteroids are available as tablets, nasal sprays or drops, and are more effective in dealing with nasal symptoms.

Asthma and hay fever

Asthmatics may find that their asthma symptoms worsen when they have hay fever. For some people asthma symptoms may only occur when they have hay fever.

With asthma, it is important to keep a reliever inhaler on you at all times, particularly if you have hay fever. Symptoms include tight chest, shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing.

By taking preventative measures you can minimize the disruption that hay fever can cause. The symptoms don't sound very dramatic, but they can have a negative effect.

• Keep an eye on the weather forecast to see what the pollen count is for the day. If it looks high, think about taking an antihistamine in preparation.

It is almost impossible to completely avoid contact with pollen, but there are certain things that you can do to minimize exposure. The first is to rub some Vaseline inside your nostrils to stop pollen from moving up your nasal passages.

On days when there is a high pollen count, it is advisable to stay inside. The following measures can help to reduce pollen exposure:

• Shut windows and doors
• Don't buy fresh flowers for indoors
• Vacuum on a regular basis
• Dust with a wet cloth to damp pollen down
• Keep pets outside or wash them when they come in to stop them bringing pollen inside
• Don't smoke or let anyone smoke inside, cigarettes irritate your airways and can aggravate hay fever symptoms
• Dry clothes inside to prevent pollen getting stuck to them

It isn't possible to stay inside all the time. The following steps will help to protect you when you are outside:

• Don't cut grass or visit grassy areas in the early morning, evening and at night, when the pollen count is higher than normal
• Wear wraparound glasses to prevent pollen getting in your eyes
• Shower when you get home to remove pollen from your body
• Change your clothes when you get home
• Close your car windows
• Buy a pollen filter for the air vents on your vehicle

The best thing to do if you suffer from hay fever is to try and stay out of contact with pollen as much as possible. If you follow these guidelines you can effectively cut down on the amount of pollen that you are exposed to. This should reduce the severity of symptoms that you suffer.