For most people there's no real health or safety reason to opt for natural products, though it may be a matter of personal preference. Seasonal allergies tend to occur in the spring and early fall when pollen from grass, trees and ragweed are more prevalent. How do you know if you have seasonal allergies? You can buy “drowsy” antihistamines without a prescription, too. Chlorphenamine maleate is the active ingredient in Piriton Syrup, which is one of the few hay fever treatments suitable for young children. Only if symptoms persist should oral antihistamines be used but you should always speak to your doctor first. Hay fever medication and children

Symptoms of a cold and hay fever are similar, but there are some differences. Itchy, red and watery eyes are common with allergies, but not as common with a cold. A cold is more likely to cause muscle aches and pain or a fever. Your doctor can help you by asking you in detail about your symptoms. They will review your home and work environment for possible triggers, assess how intense your hay fever symptoms are and how much hay fever affects your day-to-day life. They can then organise further tests to investigate possible causes and help you find ways to manage or avoid hay fever in the future. Hay fever is another name for allergic rhinitis. Hay fever mainly refers to seasonal allergic rhinitis, which is the allergies you experience at certain times of the year due to pollen from grass, weeds and trees. But some people use the terms interchangeably. When do most people get seasonal allergies?Food allergies can also cause inflammation in your nose and throat. Food allergies can be life-threatening, so get medical help right away if you’re concerned that a certain food is consistently causing allergy symptoms. What are the risk factors for hay fever? This treatment works by helping your body learn to tolerate allergens. Your provider gives you a series of injections (allergy shots or subcutaneous immunotherapy) with a small amount of the allergen. Every time you get a shot, your provider increases the amount of the allergen. Over time, your immune system develops immunity to the allergen and stops launching a reaction to it. When allergies strike, nasal sprays can help. There are many different types, and most work faster than pills. You can buy them over the counter at most supermarkets and pharmacies, or your doctor can prescribe one to relieve a stuffy or runny nose. The two most common ones you'll see on the shelf are generally well-tolerated with minimal side-effects. They are:

Some retailers offer bundles, too, which can include three months' supply of antihistamines, a nasal spray and eye drops, which reduces the overall price considerably. ...but only buy what you need You should also be vigilant about the possibility it might be Covid instead. If in doubt, get a test. Allergen-specific immunotherapy, also known as ‘desensitisation’, is a therapy designed to reduce the intensity of the body’s reaction to an allergen. Immunotherapy works by gradually exposing someone to increasing doses of allergen extracts, either by injection or orally. This is a long-term treatment option and should only be started by a medical specialist such as a clinical immunologist. What are the complications of hay fever?

Allergic conjunctivitis can be seasonal or all year round (perennial). For most of those affected seasonally, sometimes known as hay fever eyes, the symptoms are part of their hay fever and the cause is the same – grass, tree, and weed or shrub pollen. What are the symptoms of allergic eye disease You may experience hay fever symptoms only at certain times of the year (such as in spring or summer), depending on the allergens to which you are sensitive. Hay fever and other allergies can also be affected by your genes. You may have the same or different triggers to your family members. When should I see my doctor? Hay fever is common — it affects 1 in 5 people in Australia. Despite its name, it’s not caused by hay and doesn’t cause a fever. What are the symptoms of hay fever? During hay fever season, many stores put common remedies on offer - so look out for these and don't buy branded products full price.

Our Product Endorsement Scheme is recognised globally, providing assurance that a product has been scientifically tested by Allergy UK to confirm its claims. The development of this scheme several years ago forms part of our broader mission to help improve the lives of people living with allergy. The product choices in our schemes has grown to become a wide range of product types that can play a role in allergy management.Chlorphenamine is not suitable for some people, including those with epilepsy or another health problem that puts you at risk of fits, and those with the eye problem primary angle closure glaucoma. moderate to severe — meaning that your symptoms affect your sleep and daily activities such as work, school, sport and leisure The treatments prescribed for allergy control the symptoms and reactions; they do not cure the condition. Find out more about treatments from our factsheet.

Monitor pollen forecasts daily and stay indoors wherever possible when the count is high (generally on warmer, dry days). Rain washes pollen from the air so counts should be lower on cooler, wet daysFor those who respond well to it, the active ingredient acrivastine works much faster than the two main established types of antihistamine. It provides noticeable relief from a stuffy nose, sneezing and itching within 15 minutes. The capsule format is also particularly easy to swallow. Most hay fever tablets are pretty tiny, though you can get oral antihistamines in liquid formats too if you struggle with swallowing pills (or for children). As well as medicines and remedies, there are lifestyle and environment changes you can make to relieve hay fever symptoms, particularly when the pollen count is high: You might only experience some of these symptoms, and still have hay fever or allergic rhinitis. Some of these symptoms can be caused by other diseases too. Antihistamines are medicines often used to relieve symptoms of allergies, such as hay fever, urticaria, conjunctivitis and reactions to insect bites or stings.