While attacks of sneezing, itchy eyes and runny noses during the summer months were first dubbed hay fever in the 19th century, it should be noted that fever is one symptom sufferers don't get, and it has nothing to do with hay. It does, however, appear to be on the increase.
What is Hay Fever?
A more accurate name for hay fever is “seasonal allergic rhinitis,” for which the main culprit is pollen. Those unfortunate to have symptoms year round are suffering from “perennial rhinitis,” the additional allergens including house dust mites and pets. These terms are beginning to be superseded by "intermittent" and "persistent", which place more emphasis on the frequency of the symptoms, rather than the time of year they occur.
Hay fever is the most common allergic condition, affecting around one in four of the population in the United Kingdom, according to the National Health Service (NHS). For those worst affected it can make life thoroughly miserable. Sufferers report feeling tired and listless, sometimes having to take time off work and foregoing any kind of social life. Hay fever is most common in teenagers, whose teenage angst is exacerbated by having to take exams at the height of the hay fever season.
An allergy is defined as an abnormally high sensitivity to certain substances, such as pollen, which are in most cases normally harmless. There are two key factors that determine whether someone will develop an allergy:
- genetic make-up
- exposure to the allergen – In most cases a sufferer has been exposed to the allergen early in life.
Such exposure leads to the production of the allergy antibody immunoglobulin E, which attaches itself to specialised cells (called mast cells) which in turn release histamine and other chemicals. It is these which produce allergic reactions.
Common Hay Fever Triggers
Hay fever sufferers are allergic to pollens in the air, which come from wind-pollinated plants. The most common of these are grass and trees, and not from brightly coloured plants, the pollen of which is transferred from plant to plant by insects.
- grass pollen – There are hundreds of species of grasses in the United Kingdom, with meadow grasses producing the most pollen. The grass pollen season extends from mid-May to the end of July. It has been found that there is a great deal of cross-reactivity between the grass species, so sufferers allergic to one type may react to others as well.
- tree pollens – The culprits during the tree pollen season, running from the end of March to the beginning of May, include the hazel, plane, oak, elm ash and birch species.
Treatments For Hay Fever
Sufferers are often advised to avoid environments where pollen is present, but as sufferers will know, this is easier said than done. Pollen seems to be able to get through the tiniest crack. Thankfully there are medical treatments which can make life more bearable during the hay fever season. These include:
- decongestants – Decongestants can help clear a blocked nose quickly, although their effectiveness doesn't usually last long. It is also not wise to use them for too long, as they can cause damage to the lining of the nose.
- antihistamines – Modern, second-generation antihistamines, such as Zirtek and Claritin, are available without a prescription and are a great improvement over the older type of antihistamine as they don't cause drowsiness. Users should still take extra care when driving, however, and avoid too much alcohol. Doctors can prescribe antihistamines for children.
- corticosteroids – Primarily available only with a prescription, corticosteroids are an effective treatment for moderate and severe hay fever. They are available as a nasal spray, as tablets or as injections. They are usually used over a specific period. Long-term use is not advised due to possible side effects.
With some trial and error, most hay fever sufferers can find a hay fever remedy without a prescription. Those who suffer from a more severe form of the allergy should however seek further advice from a doctor, as there may be a prescription hay fever remedy that will help.
Source:
The British Medical Association Family Doctor Guide to Allergies and Hay Fever, Professor Robert J Davies (Dorling Kindersley, 1999)
Paris Franz - Paris Franz is a London-based freelance journalist, specialising in the arts, history and travel.
