Hay

Hay fever is a common allergic condition that affects up to one in five people at some point in their life.

Symptoms of hay fever

Symptoms of hay fever include:

• sneezing and coughing
• a runny or blocked nose
• itchy, red or watery eyes
• itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
• loss of smell
• pain around your temples and forehead
• headache
• earache
• feeling tired

If you have asthma, you might also:

• have a tight feeling in your chest
• be short of breath
• wheeze and cough

Hay fever will last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after 1 to 2 weeks.

Causes of hay fever

Hay fever is caused by the nose and/or eyes coming into contact with environmental allergens, such as pollens, dust mite, moulds and animal hair.

Treatment of hay fever

Most people with hay fever can relieve symptoms with treatment. Treatment options for hay fever include antihistamines, which can help to prevent an allergic reaction from happening and corticosteroids (steroids), which help to reduce inflammation and swelling.

Prevention of hay fever

It's not possible to prevent hay fever. If you have hay fever, the best thing to do is to reduce your exposure to the allergens that cause your symptoms.

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