Hay fever: A quick guide

When spring arrives, seasonal allergies might not be far away.

You may be a veteran of runny noses and itchy eyes, but how much do you actually know about hay fever?

We look at the basics of hay fever, including the symptoms and potential causes, and some helpful ways to manage it.

Also known as allergic rhinitis, hay fever is an allergic reaction in the nose and eyes to allergens in the air, like animal hair, dust, pollen and mould. While common in spring when triggers like pollen are widespread, hay fever can occur any time of the year.

When you have hay fever, your immune system identifies harmless substances like pollen as being dangerous. Your body responds by producing antibodies to fight them off.

These antibodies trigger your immune system to release chemicals like histamines, which causes you to sneeze, have a runny nose or itch.

Hay fever symptoms can be similar to the common cold, and it might sometimes be difficult to distinguish between them.

Common hay fever symptoms include:

• a runny nose
• nasal congestion
• watery, itchy, swollen or red eyes
• coughing
• sneezing
• an itch in the nose, throat or mouth
• fatigue.

Those experiencing severe hay fever may have difficulty sleeping which, in turn, may result in poor concentration during the day.

Long-term hay fever can cause your airway to become inflamed or blocked, resulting in permanent nasal stuffiness, a decreased sense of smell, snoring, irritability and vulnerability to sinusitis and infections.

Hay fever can affect anyone at any age, though most people experience symptoms before they are 20.¹

Certain factors make you more likely to experience hay fever, including:

• genetic factors
• having other conditions like asthma
• environmental factors
• being exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke early in life.²

Finding the best strategies to help you live with and manage hay fever comes down to a simple process of trial and error.

There are some simple ways you can reduce your exposure to hay fever triggers:

• In spring or summer time, stay inside on windy days or immediately after thunderstorms.
• Check the pollen count online and plan to stay indoors on days with a high pollen count.
• Wear glasses or sunglasses to protect your eyes from pollen.
• Use dust mite covers on your pillows and mattresses.
• Wash your sheets and blankets frequently in hot water.
• Wash your hands after touching animals.

Hay fever symptoms can worsen when you’re exposed to irritants. So, it might help to avoid things like strong odours, perfumes, wood smoke, tobacco smoke, aerosol sprays or air pollution.

Unfortunately, there’s no cure for hay fever.³ But there are treatment options available to help manage the symptoms.

Over-the-counter medications such as antihistamine tablets, intranasal sprays and eye drops may help to relieve symptoms. Your GP may also prescribe intranasal corticosteroids which work by reducing inflammation in the lining of the nose. Alternatively, natural remedies (ranging from acupuncture to rosemary) might work for you. Speak to your GP or pharmacist for advice on all treatment options.

Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia has online support resources available. You can also call for help and support on 1300 728 000.

Allergy 250K provides support for teenagers and young adults.