Hay fever is a form of rhinitis caused by an allergy to pollen that causes inflammation of the nose.
Symptoms of hay fever can include:
- runny nose
- blocked nose
- ‘post-nasal drip’
Grass pollen is the most common allergen, most years this affects sufferers between the months of Man & July. Trees pollenate earlier (February-June) and mould spores are
Hay fever often runs in families, alongside other types of allergic reactions such as asthma, eczema, food allergies & rhinitis Those with hay fever may also experience a reaction to certain foods related to their pollen triggers.
Antihistamine is common in the management of hay fever, nasal-sprays are also used to treat inflammation of the nasal passage. Some people may find immunology (also known as desensitisation), which uses small doses of the allergen are prescribed & the dose is increased until an optimum level has been reached. I would recommend proceeding with caution if you choose this treatment as it can cause a worsening of symptoms during treatment. I would not attempt this treatment if you have previously suffered an anaphylactic reaction.
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Useful resources –
Hay Fever And Allergic Rhinitis, Types Of Allergy. https://www.allergyuk.org/hayfever-and-allergic-rhinitis/hay-fever-and-allergic-rhinitis. Allergy UK. Last updated March 2015.