What is Hay fever?

Hay fever is an allergy in the nose and eyes that occur due to seasonal allergens (pollens from trees, grass, weeds) or mould and mildew. Also referred to as seasonal rhinitis. It is basically an immune response to harmless substances, which are carried around in the air. When they are breathed in to the airways they produce an immune response which causes hay fever symptoms.

What are the symptoms of hay fever?

Sneezing, itchy, runny and congested nose, itchy, watery, red puffy eyes. Fatigue and difficulty sleeping

Management of hay fever

Finding out what triggers the hay fever is the best option but most of the time it is nearly impossible to avoid the allergen. Hay fever treatments vary from nasal sprays, tablets and eye drops.

Nasal sprays (Steroid based)

Beconase nasal spray, works by locally suppressing the immune response to the allergens and with continued use prevents hay fever symptoms from recurring. With all steroid sprays it takes 3 to 4 days for them to work and it is recommended to take antihistamines to relieve the symptoms for the first week of use. Beconase nasal spray is used twice daily.

Flixonase nasal spray is another steroid spray but is used once daily which makes it easier to use.

Nasal sprays (Non-steroid based)

Livostin nasal spray is an antihistamine based spray which works by blocking histamine which is the main culprit in hay fever. Livostin unlike steroid based sprays works immediately and can be used when symptoms develop.

Azep is another antihistamine spray, which will work to relieve the symptoms of hay fever, but will not prevent the symptoms from occurring.

Antihistamine tablets (non-sedating)

They work by blocking the histamine reaction to allergens systemically, are the best option when hay fever is affecting the eyes and nose. Also work well for skin allergies.

There are about 3 main non-sedating antihistamines, cetirizine, loratadine and fexofenadine. They do vary in efficacy most people find that cetirizine(Zyrtec,Apo-Cetirizine) and loratadine(Claratin,Claratyne,Apo-Loratadine) work quite well for them, and when both fail fexofenadine works the best. Fexofenadine (Telfast, Allerga,Xergic) comes in 3 different strengths, 60mg 120mg and 180mg. I usually recommend the 60mg for maintenance of symptoms, 120mg when is just hay fever and the 180mg when the allergy is also affecting the skin.

Antihistamine tablets (sedating)

They also block the histamine reaction systemically, but they also cause sedation or sleepiness, there is 2 sedating antihistamines Promethazine (Phenergan) and Dexchlorpheniramine (Polaramine) I usually recommend them when the non-sedating antihistamines fail, and also for skin allergies.