Hay Fever: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

What Is Hay Fever?

If you’ve been experiencing a runny nose, sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, and/or sinus pressure, you may be wondering if you’ve contracted a cold. It’s important to know, however, that there’s another possibility: your body could be responding to indoor or outdoor allergens such as pollen, moulds, pet dander, or dust mites; if this is the case, you may have hay fever.

The biggest difference between a cold and hay fever is that a cold is caused by a virus, while hay fever is caused by substances in the air that trigger an allergic reaction. Hay fever—also known as allergic rhinitis—causes cold-like symptoms that many people consider to be bothersome and distracting.

If you live in or around Melbourne, our team of Australian Registered Doctors here at NextClinic wants to remind you that this city is known as an “allergy capital," and that’s all the more reason to take extra precautions so you can try to avoid hay fever as best you can.

What Causes Hay Fever?

Hay fever is caused by allergens in the air that you cannot see.

Pollen is an exception, however, because this naturally occurring substance is yellow in color and often collects on outdoor furniture, the hood of your car, and other similar areas. Even though pollen is an essential ecological function (without pollen, plants and trees wouldn’t grow, flowers wouldn’t bloom, crops would fail, and life on earth would cease to exist), this substance is one of the most common causes of hay fever, especially among people who reside in and around Melbourne.

According to Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA), “Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is one of the most common allergic conditions, affecting one in five people in Australia.”

The city of Melbourne is known as a challenging environment for people who have allergies. Our temperate climate and unpredictable weather changes contribute to introducing pollen into the air. Ryegrass grows particularly well here; this wind-pollinated grass is regarded as a major allergen, especially during peak flowering season.

Even though pollen itself is harmless, your immune system overreacts once you inhale it if you are you are allergic to it. When this happens, your immune system mistakenly identifies the pollen as a threat and begins releasing antibodies and histamine. Before you know it, you develop those frustrating, cold-like symptoms.

Who Can Get Hay Fever?

Just like anyone can get a cold, anyone can get hay fever. Children can contract hay fever just as easily as adults. According to National Asthma Council Australia (NACA), “Around one in five Australians have allergies, including most people with asthma. Allergies tend to run in families but family members may not have the same response.”

If you’re concerned that you, your child, or another member of your household has allergies, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with a doctor who can answer your questions, address your concerns, and prescribe treatments that can offer the symptom relief you need.

What Are the Symptoms of Hay Fever?

Here are the most common symptoms of hay fever:

• Sneezing
• Runny and/or itchy nose
• Congestion
• Red, watery, and/or itchy eyes
• Postnasal drip
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Consistent need to clear your throat
• Frequent ear or sinus infections

You may also experience itching on the roof of your mouth or in your throat. Some people even notice dark circles under their eyes (these are known as allergic shiners) that are caused by swollen tissue within the nasal cavities.

Since the symptoms of hay fever can interfere with your daily life—and the symptoms tend to worsen at night—they may make you restless and disturb your sleep. That’s why it’s also quite common to feel excessively tired.

We encourage you to pay attention to when your symptoms appear; symptoms of hay fever tend to develop immediately after your exposure to allergens, and they’ll often continue throughout the duration of exposure.

Also, don’t be confused by the name: hay fever does not cause an actual fever. According to Royal College of Physicians, the term “hay fever” was coined by surgeon William Gordon upon noticing that symptoms emerged when the grass ripened and the flowers bloomed.

How is Hay Fever Treated?

There are many ways to treat hay fever, and you can take comfort in knowing that many of the treatment methods work well to suppress or eradicate symptoms.

Treatment for hay fever depends on the severity of your symptoms. If your symptoms are mild, for example, you can purchase over-the-counter medications to alleviate them. If, however, your symptoms are more severe, you may benefit from stronger medications or perhaps even Allergen Immunotherapy (AIT).

Common treatments for hay fever include, but are not limited to:

Non-Drowsy Antihistamines

Antihistamines can be taken orally (tablets, syrups) or nasally (sprays). You can also use antihistamine eye drops available if hay fever is making your eyes red, itchy, and swollen. These medications block your immune system from producing the chemical histamine during an allergic reaction.

Decongestants

Decongestants can be taken alone or alongside antihistamines to offer you symptom relief. The purpose of decongestants is to reduce congestion and pressure associated with swelling. These are available with and without a prescription, and they come in the form of liquids, nasal sprays, and tablets.

Intranasal Corticosteroid Sprays

Intranasal corticosteroid sprays can be sprayed into each nostril to help prevent and treat congestion as well as itchy, runny nose. Many people respond well to nasal corticosteroids and appreciate the minimal side effects associated with them.

Allergen Immunotherapy (AIT)

Allergen Immunotherapy (AIT)is also used to treat hay fever. According to A&AA, “AIT has been used for more than 100 years and is a proven treatment providing long-term relief for allergic rhinitis. The aim of AIT is to help people react less to their trigger allergens that cause symptoms (such as grass pollen or dust mites). This means having no, or fewer, symptoms and a better quality of life.”

AIT is administered by injection, spray, tablet or drops. It is most suitable for children 6 and up. For more information about this treatment option, talk to your doctor about a possible referral to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist.

How Can Hay Fever Be Avoided?

There is no cure for hay fever, but there are ways to avoid exposing yourself to allergens that cause it.

If you’re aware that pollen is the culprit behind your hay fever, we recommend taking the following precautions:

1. Shutting your windows and doors as much as possible during peak pollen season
2. Applying petroleum jelly to the outside of your nose to trap pollen
3. Showering and changing your clothes after time spent outdoors
4. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses when outside
5. Vacuuming and dusting your living space regularly
6. Using an allergy-grade filter in your home ventilation system
7. Installing pollen filters in your vehicle’s air vents
8. Avoiding hanging your laundry outside to dry (pollen sticks to fabrics)
9. Reducing indoor humidity by using a dehumidifier
10. Wearing a dust mask while gardening or cleaning
11. Avoiding rubbing your eyes and rinsing them as needed

We also recommend paying close attention to the weather, as pollen tends to be at its highest on dry and windy days. Also, keep in mind that pollen counts are usually highest in the morning.

Healthdirect Australia also notes, “The amount of pollen in the air changes according to the season and where you live. For example, pollen counts can be very high in October and November in Melbourne and Hobart, and in the spring and summer in Adelaide, Sydney and Canberra. Brisbane and Darwin have high pollen for most of the year.”

How Long Does Hay Fever Last?

Unlike a common cold, which goes away after one or two weeks, hay fever can last weeks or even months. The length of your exposure to the allergen in question—be it pollen, dander, or dust—often coincides with the duration of your symptoms.

Immune responses vary from person to person. Medications, underlying health conditions, and other environmental factors can also affect the duration and severity of your symptoms.

Request a Medical Certificate from NextClinic

If you have hay fever—or suspect that you do—and you need a medical certificate that will allow you to take sick leave from work, NextClinic can provide a single-day or 2-day doctor’s certificate within an hour’s time. Our Australian Registered Doctors are online from 6 am to 12 midnight AEST, and you must be at least 18 years of age to use our services.

NextClinic exists to ensure quick, efficient, and convenient service. Each medical certificate issued by NextClinic features a QR code that makes it easy to verify its authenticity. This will give you peace of mind in knowing that your sick leave certificate is legitimate and therefore will be accepted by your school and/or employer.

Proceeding with Your Online Medical Certificate

Should you decide to use NextClinic’s service, we’ll ask you to fill out a secure online questionnaire that asks you to detail your symptoms and your medical history. Upon receipt, one of our Australian Registered Doctors will thoroughly review your questionnaire and follow up with any questions or requests for additional information. Once your request has been approved, we will send you an online doctor’s certificate within an hour.

Our goal is to simplify the process of obtaining the doctor’s certificate you need—at an affordable cost and an unparalleled speed.

Disclaimer:

This medical blog provides general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your regular doctor for specific medical concerns. The content is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication and may change. While we strive for accuracy, we make no warranties regarding completeness or reliability. Use the information at your own risk. Links to other websites are provided for convenience and do not imply endorsement. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily representative of any institutions.