Symptoms of Hay fever

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Hay fever symptoms vary in severity and some people find their symptoms are worse some years than others. Symptoms also start at different times of year depending on the type of pollen youâ€™re allergic to. In general, the symptoms of hay fever are:

frequent sneezing;
runny or blocked nose;
itchy or watery eyes;
an itchy throat, mouth and ears;

Less commonly, you may have:

loss of smell;
face pain (caused by blocked sinuses);
sweats; and
headaches.

If you have asthma, you may find that your asthma symptoms, such as wheezing and breathlessness, get worse when you have hay fever as well. Sometimes asthma symptoms only occur during the hay fever season.

Pollen count:

Hay fever symptoms are likely to be worse if the pollen count is high. The pollen count is the number of pollen grains found in each cubic metre of air. This isnâ€™t determined simply by how many flowers are around, but also by the weather. The amount of sunshine, rain or wind there is affects how much pollen plants release.

During the pollen season, plants release pollen early in the morning. On a sunny day, as the day gets warmer and more flowers open, pollen levels may rise, and the pollen is carried high up into the air. The pollen count is therefore highest in the early evening, and itâ€™s a good idea to avoid going outdoors at this time.

On humid and windy days, pollen spreads easily. On rainy days, pollen may be cleared from the air causing levels to fall.