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Hayfever allergies

Condition Overview:

Hay fever, otherwise known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to airborne substances such as pollen that get into the upper respiratory passages - the nose, sinus, throat - and also the eyes.

Hay fever is the most common of all the allergic diseases - about 15 per cent of the population in industrialised countries suffer from this condition. Symptoms usually appear in childhood first and then lessen by the age of 30 or 40.

Perennial allergic rhinitis is a similar allergy that occurs all year round and is caused by things such as house dust mites and pets. However the predominant allergen changes from time to time.

Different microscopic substances get into the nose and cause the body to produce antibodies and release histamine.

Histamine irritates the upper respiratory passages, making them swell and producing the typical hay fever symptoms.

A tendency to suffer allergies is often hereditary. The most common causes of hay fever are:

• tree pollen such as elder, elm, hazel and especially birch (spring hay fever).
• grass pollen (summer hay fever).
• mugwort and hybrids such as chrysanthemum (autumn hay fever).
• house dust mites and mould fungus - particularly associated with perennial allergic rhinitis.

Symptoms of hay fever: Itchy and watery eyes. Frequent sneezing, a bunged up or runny nose. Itching on the roof of the mouth. Coughing. Wheezing or a burning sensation in the throat.

Cause hay fever : The pollen to which you are allergic.Genetic predisposition associated with other atopic diseases, eg eczema or asthma.

Often it will be enough to tell the doctor when, where, and how your symptoms occur. Skin tests and specific blood tests can be used to confirm what exactly you are allergic to.

Hay fever sufferers are more vulnerable to other allergic respiratory diseases, eg asthma, and sleeping difficulties that can lead to chronic fatigue (because of blocked nasal passages and snoring).

If you suffer from hay fever you should do whatever you can to avoid substances that provoke hypersensitivity. Otherwise you will increase the risk of developing other, more serious, allergic diseases.

Symptoms can be controlled through treatment, but you can't get rid of the allergy itself. However, hay fever is usually more of a nuisance than a harm to health, and the symptoms of many people improve over time.