Last Updated on Monday, 19 October 2009 10:36

Symptoms of Hay Fever

Hayfever symptoms vary in intensity and occur at different times in the year. You may be worse off some years than you are in others depending on the weather and the pollen count. Other known factors such as house dust mites, pet hair and moulds may also trigger allergies, which often result in perennial allergic rhinitis, occurring year round.

Common hayfever symptoms

Symptoms include:

• Persistent sneezing, an itchy, running nose or nasal congestion and itchiness of the throat, mouth, nose and ears.

• A cough may result from a postnasal mucus drip.

• Watery, red and itchy eyes are often associated and are clubbed under the term ‘allergic conjunctivitis.’

• Headache, sweating, and loss of sense of smell and taste may occasionally be present.

• Patients may complain of poor sleep, tiredness, and daytime drowsiness.

• People with both hay fever and asthma may complain of a worsening of their asthmatic symptoms during this period.

Although considered more of a nuisance than a serious disease, long standing allergic symptoms may eventually result in a poor quality of life. Social and physical activities may need to be curtailed as mood, learning and work output suffer. Children with hayfever often fare poorly in school not uncommonly due to trouble concentrating and some degree of accompanying hearing loss.