Understanding hay fever

20% of the UK’s population suffers from ‘seasonal allergic rhinitis’ or hay fever – triggered by tree pollen and grass pollen during summer. It usually starts early in life with 40% of cases by age six and 30% during teens. The condition can seriously impair sufferers’ day-to-day life at work or school – for example, young people with symptoms on an exam day were 40% more likely to drop a grade between their mock and final GCSEs.                                                        

Ref: Walker S, Khan-Wasti S, Fletcher M, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007;120 (2):381-38

• 

  Hay fever symptoms

  Hay fever varies from person to person. You might experience it very occasionally and very mildly – for example, cold symptoms when the pollen count is high. Other people can be laid-low for the duration of the pollen season, experiencing a wide variety of debilitating symptoms. Read More...

• 

  What causes hay fever?

  For most people pollen is a harmless part of nature. But if you suffer from hay fever, or ‘seasonal allergic rhinitis’, the high pollen months of spring and summer can be sheer misery. Read More...

• 

  Skin prick testing for hay fever

  GPs will diagnose your hay fever by asking about your symptoms and when you get them. They may give you a skin prick test, or refer you to an allergy clinic for one. Read More...

• 

  Hay fever treatment with a hay fever injection

  While most hay fever sufferers find relief with over-the-counter treatments, more severe conditions may require prescription medicine or a course of specific immunotherapy. Read More...

• 

  Hay fever prevention

  Depending on the severity of your hay fever, you’ll be surprised how much these simple lifestyle changes can reduce your symptoms during spring and summer. Read More...

• 

  Useful links

  If you would like to find out more information on hay fever and immunotherapy we can recommend some useful links. Read More...