About Hayfever (Allergic Rhinitis)

Help and advice on the causes of hayfever the effects and the best hayfever treatments available

Despite its name, hayfever has nothing to do with hay or fever. A 19th century physician called it this because he began sneezing every time he entered a hay barn! In a fresh countryside atmosphere the air contains many irritants, which are either natural or man-made. Pollens which cause hay fever. Animal fur and house dust mites are among the many allergens floating about in the air causing considerable misery to those who are sensitive to them.

Hayfever is an allergic reaction to pollen, pollutants and dust mites etc. in the air. It affects 15% to 20% of the population in Britain, and it is on the increase. It is a problem in all western industrialized countries, although the levels of affliction vary widely. The non-sufferers regard it as unimportant. For sufferers it varies from minor irritation to severe incapacity. You may be unable to work or drive. School and exam performances are worse in young people with untreated hayfever. Exams usually take place at the peak of the hayfever season.

Old and dated hayfever treatments still widely used treat the symptoms. But have negative side effects, including drowsiness, which can badly affect driving and exam performance. The common symptoms are; sneezing, runny or blocked nose, itching in the nose and throat, and headache due to sinusitis caused by swelling in the nose. It also causes eyes to water, become reddened and itchy, and even swelling of the whites of the eyes.



There are many good modern hayfever treatments. They are available via prescription or over the counter. If you are a sufferer, you should always see your GP to decide which treatment suits you best.