Hay Fever Treatment

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is a common type of allergy that can cause symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, nasal congestion and itchy, red eyes.

There are two types of hay fever:

• Seasonal hay fever: This type of hay fever typically occurs in the spring and summer months when airborne allergens, such as pollen, are more prevalent.
• Perennial hay fever: This type of hay fever can occur at any time of the year and is usually caused by indoor allergens such as dust mites, mould spores, and/or animal hair.

Hay fever is caused by an allergic reaction to airborne particles, including pollen, dust mites, mould spores and pet dander (hair and fur).

If these allergens enter the body through the nose, mouth or by landing on the eyes, the immune system can mistakenly identify them as harmful pathogens, triggering the release of histamine in the body which causes inflammation and the widening of the blood vessels.

This mechanism results in hay fever symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes and increased mucus production.

The most common hay fever symptoms are:

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Itchy, red, or watery eyes
• Nasal congestion
• Headaches
• Fatigue

It is important to note that hay fever symptoms can vary from person to person. If you experience severe and/or persistent symptoms, contact our pharmacy team and complete our online consultation to discuss suitable treatment options.

If an individual experiences any symptoms of genital warts, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible to receive treatment and minimise the risk of viral transmission.

According to the NHS, hay fever is a common allergic condition affecting up to 1 in 5 people at some stage in their life.

Hay fever season occurs when the pollen count is at its highest in the year. The overall pollen count depends on the prevalence of three main types of pollen in the air: tree, grass and weed pollen.

• Tree pollen levels begin to rise in late March and peak in the middle of May.
• Grass pollen levels begin to increase after tree pollen levels, peaking from mid-May through to July.
• Weed pollen is most prevalent from the end of June to September.

Please note that hay fever seasons can vary in severity depending on where individuals live. For example, those near the coast will have less pollen than those who live in the countryside surrounded by greenery.

Oral antihistamines (hay fever tablets), nasal sprays, and eye drops can help relieve various hay fever symptoms.

• Oral antihistamines: Oral antihistamines inhibit the effects of histamine, a chemical released by the immune system during an allergic reaction which can cause symptoms such as sneezing and itching. By blocking histamine receptors, these medications reduce the duration and severity of hay fever symptoms affecting the nose and throat.
• Nasal Sprays: Nasal sprays such as Mometasone Furoate, Beclometasone, Beconase Nasal Spray, Nasonex, Clarinaze and Pirinase Nasal Spray deliver intranasal corticosteroids directly to the nasal passages to help relieve nasal inflammation. Non-corticosteroid nasal sprays such as Sterimar Nasal Spray can also be used to clear the nasal passages, improving breathing.
• Eye drops: Eye drops such as Sodium Cromoglicate and Opticrom Eye Drops contain antihistamines and other anti-inflammatory ingredients to help relieve hay fever symptoms affecting the eyes such as redness, irritation and dryness.

Oral antihistamines are among the best hay fever treatments and can be categorised as drowsy antihistamines, which make you feel sleepy, and non-drowsy antihistamines, which are less likely to make you feel sleepy.

Some of the most popular oral antihistamines include:

• Fexofenadine: This is a non-drowsy antihistamine that contains the active ingredient fexofenadine hydrochloride. It works by blocking the effects of histamine in the body, thereby preventing symptoms associated with hay fever, such as itchy eyes, a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing and coughing. Fexofenadine is available as a generic medication as well as the branded variants (Allevia and Telfast).
• Cetirizine: This is a non-drowsy antihistamine that works similarly to Fexofenadine. Cetirizine hydrochloride, the active ingredient in Cetirizine, reduces the severity and risk of hay fever symptoms by blocking the effects of histamine H1 receptors in the body.
• Loratadine: This is a non-drowsy antihistamine that also works by blocking the action of histamine and preventing allergic symptoms associated with hay fever. Loratadine is the active ingredient in popular hay fever tablets such as Clarityn and Clarityn Rapide.