Many will be dreading spring and the hay fever it so often brings. A few words on a condition that affects so many.
Many will be dreading spring and the hay fever it so often brings. A few words on a condition that affects so many.
The medical term for hay fever is allergic rhinitis. Rhinitis means irritation or inflammation of the nose. Springtime hay-fever is called seasonal allergic rhinitis, all year symptoms are often called perennial allergic rhinitis.
The nose is itchy, watery, and runny. It often becomes congested and blocked. Sneezing can be a real nuisance and quite debilitating. The face, especially around the nose and eyes, can get red and itchy. The eyes are often angry, itchy, runny and inflamed.
Complications of hay fever are common - fatigue, headache, sinus congestion, poor concentration, irritability (especially in children).
The allergy can affect the whole body, and many people also suffer from asthma and eczema when their hay fever is bad.
Mild uncomplicated hay fever responds well to simple short-term allergy treatment. This includes certain nasal sprays or antihistamine tablets.
If you need drug treatment for more than 4 weeks, then your doctor may wish to send you to an allergist. Allergy injections (desensitisation or allergy shots) can often be very helpful, but they are not suitable for everyone! Every attempt should be made to isolate the cause, and avoidance of the trigger may be very helpful.
In Australia, seasonal hay fever usually occurs in spring and early summer. The southern one-third of Australia, especially the south-east, has the most severe problems. Melbourne is a notoriously bad area for spring allergy.
Most spring problems are due to imported, exotic grasses which have spread widely throughout Australia. There are many varieties, but two common types are perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and couch grass or Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon). Certain tree pollens are also important, but flowers are not often implicated.
Hay fever that occurs at any time of the year is often triggered by dust, such as vacuum cleaner dust. Dust itself is a real cocktail - it can contain dirt, bacteria, human and animal skin scales, dried mucus, dust mite, dust mite faeces, cockroach dust, pollen, mould spores, food particles and much more!
With thanks to AllergyNet Australia
Tania Tobias
Pharmacist Manager Community Pharmacy Elsternwick