Hay fever is a common allergy causing sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes
There's no cure, but symptoms can be eased with self-care and medicine
Symptoms are usually worse from late March to September, when pollen count is highest
It can last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually clears within 1 to 2 weeks
It's caused by an allergic reaction to pollen
About Hay Fever
Hay fever is a common allergy causing sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes. There's no cure, but there's plenty you can do to ease symptoms, alongside medicines that can help.
Symptoms
Symptoms can include sneezing and coughing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy, red or watery eyes, an itchy throat, mouth, nose or ears, loss of smell, pain around the forehead and sides of the head, headaches, and tiredness. Symptoms are usually worse between late March and September, particularly when it's warm, humid and windy, since this is when the pollen count is highest. Unlike a cold, which usually clears within 1 to 2 weeks, hay fever can last for weeks or months.
What Causes It
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen, a fine powder produced by plants, usually triggered when it comes into contact with the mouth, nose, eyes or throat. The Met Office publishes a regular pollen forecast that can help you plan ahead on high-pollen days.
Page last reviewed: 6 March 2024 · Next review due: 6 March 2027
Hay Fever · Self-Care
Treating Hay Fever Yourself
? 4 min readReviewed: March 2024
What Can Help
There's no cure for hay fever and it can't be prevented, but there's a lot you can do to ease symptoms when the pollen count is high. Applying a small amount of petroleum jelly around the nostrils can help trap pollen, and wearing wraparound sunglasses, a mask, or a wide-brimmed hat can stop pollen reaching the nose and eyes. Showering and changing clothes after being outside helps wash off pollen, and keeping windows and doors shut, vacuuming regularly, dusting with a damp cloth, and using a pollen filter in the car or a HEPA filter in the vacuum cleaner can all reduce pollen indoors.
What to Avoid
It's best to avoid cutting or walking on grass, spending too much time outside, and keeping fresh flowers in the house. Smoking or being around smoke can make symptoms worse, as can drying clothes outside, where they can pick up pollen. Where possible, it also helps to keep pets out of the house, since they can carry pollen indoors on their fur.
Getting Advice from a Pharmacist
A pharmacist can offer advice and recommend suitable treatments for hay fever, such as antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays, or steroid nasal sprays. Some antihistamines can cause drowsiness, so ask your pharmacist about non-drowsy options if this matters for you.
See a GP if your symptoms are getting worse, or if they don't improve after trying pharmacy treatments.
Page last reviewed: 6 March 2024 · Next review due: 6 March 2027
Hay Fever · GP Treatment
Treatment from a GP
? 3 min readReviewed: March 2024
Steroid Treatment and Immunotherapy
A GP may prescribe a steroid treatment for hay fever if pharmacy options haven't been enough. If steroids and other treatments still aren't helping, you may be referred for immunotherapy — this involves being given small amounts of pollen, either by injection or tablet, to gradually build up your immune tolerance to it over time. This type of treatment usually needs to start several months before the hay fever season begins, so it's worth discussing with a GP well in advance if your symptoms are particularly severe.
Page last reviewed: 6 March 2024 · Next review due: 6 March 2027
