When should I see a doctor about hay fever?
What is hay fever?
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen, typically when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes and throat. Pollen is a fine powder from plants. If affects children and teenagers more than adults.
Hay fever is one of the most common allergic conditions. It’s estimated that there are more than 10 million people with hay fever in England.
It usually occurs from late March to September, especially May-July. Its worse when it’s warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest.
What causes hay fever?
When you have hay fever, your immune system identifies a harmless airborne substance (like pollen) as being harmful. This substance is called an allergen. Your immune system is how your body protects itself, so it produces immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to protect against this allergen.
The next time you come in contact with the allergen, these antibodies cause your immune system to release chemicals such as histamine into your bloodstream. This causes a reaction that leads to the symptoms of hay fever.
What are the symptoms of hay fever?
- Sneezing and coughing
- Runny or blocked nose
- Itchy, red and watery eyes (feels like crying all the time) – usually affect both eyrs
- Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
- Loss of smell.
Hay fever can give you red, itchy, watery and puffy eyes like this. But there are other causes like conjunctivitis (red or pink eye). If they persist, see your GP.
What else could it be?
Hay fever symptoms are similar to viral infections like colds, flu and COVID-19. More on them on MyHSN here.
Hay fever will last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after 1 to 2 weeks.
How to treat hay fever yourself
There’s currently no cure for hay fever and you cannot prevent it. For many people it is mild and it does not need any treatment.
But you can do things to ease your symptoms when the pollen count is high.
Do’s
- Put vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen
- Shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off
- Stay indoors whenever possible (but it may be Summer, so make use of that sun!)
- Keep windows and doors shut as much as possible.
Don’ts
- Do not cut grass or walk on grass
- Do not spend too much time outside
- Do not keep fresh flowers in the house
- Do not smoke or be around smoke – it makes your symptoms worse.
When should I see a pharmacist (or doctor) about hay fever?
Speak to your pharmacist if you have hay fever. You do not need to see a doctor.
They can give advice and suggest the best treatments, like antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays to help with:
- Itchy and watery eyes and sneezing
- A blocked nose.
Summary
We have described when should I see a doctor about hay fever. A pharmacist can help first.
