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Hayfever
Hay fever is an allergy to pollen and is very common. People are born with this allergy but it can be inactive and occur later in life.
Hay fever is more common during your teens and you’re at higher risk if you have asthma or your parents have hay fever.
If you suffer from hay fever, when you breathe in pollen, it irritates your airways and causes a runny or blocked nose, itchy, red, streaming eyes and sneezing, tingly or itchy mouth, coughing and a stuffy head. Pollen count is higher between April and August and can make these symptoms worse.
Although there is no cure for hay fever, you can get treatments from your doctor or from the pharmacy. Treatments include nasal spray, eye drops and antihistamine tablets.
Some hay fever sufferers can also develop oral allergies to some fruit, vegetables and nuts due to their high pollen count in the summer months.
