Advice

Hayfever / Allergy

Welcome to your guide to allergies and hayfever
We want to help you by offering expert advice about which products can help with your hayfever and year round allergy symptoms. This leaflet tells you more about allergies, hayfever, their symptoms and tips on how to treat and manage them. If you have any questions or need advice on which products to take, please ask your pharmacist.
The leaflet is broken down into the following five sections:
• Symptoms to recognise
• Facts about Allergies
• Facts about Hayfever
• Treatments available
• Prevention
Symptoms
The severity of an allergic reaction will vary from person to person and the same trigger factor can cause different symptoms in different people. Hayfever is the most common type of allergy and you may think it would be difficult to distinguish whether you have hayfever or an allergy to something else. However the seasonality of hayfever makes it easy to identify – with the peak pollen months being from April to August.
Symptoms of Allergies and Hayfever may include:
• Sore, red, itchy and watery eyes
• Frequent sneezing
• Blocked or runny nose
• Sinus problems
• Loss of smell and taste
• Itching of the roof of the mouth or throat
• Sore palate
• Coughing
• Wheezing or breathing problems
• Vomiting
• Itchy inflamed skin or a rash
• Loss of concentration
• Headaches
• General feeling of unwell
• Diarrhoea.
Facts about Allergy
20 million people in the UK, that’s 33% of the population, are affected by an allergy in some form or another, and this is not restricted to summer alone. This is clearly a widespread problem, with the numbers increasing by 5% each year and as many as half of all those affected are children.*
What is an allergy?
The response to allergens is called an allergic reaction. The body’s immune system tries to identify the allergen by releasing chemicals which can create the symptoms mentioned on page 3. Allergens can also trigger an asthma attack,
please see the leaflet ‘Your Guide to Asthma’ for further information.
The most common allergens are:
• pollen from trees and grasses
• house dust mite, moulds
• pets such as cats and dogs
• insects like wasps and bees
• industrial and household chemicals
• medicines
• foods such as nuts, milk and eggs.
Why are so many people suffering
from allergies today?
In the UK today the increase in the number of allergies appears to be linked to hygiene and environmental issues such as:
• Warm, well-sealed homes may keep us warm, but also encourage common triggers like the house dust mite
• We now spend on average 90% of our time indoors
• Many people’s diets are high in fat and low in fruit and vegetables
• Fluctuating levels of air pollution.
We can help you identify which allergies you have and help you control them by treating the symptoms.
Facts about Hayfever
Hayfever is also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis. It is the most common of all allergic conditions affecting around 12 million people in the UK.
What is Hayfever?
Hayfever is an allergic reaction to pollen grains or spores produced by trees, grass, flowers and moulds. It commonly occurs between early spring and autumn but, for those allergic to certain tree pollens, symptoms can start as early as January.
What causes Hayfever?
Hayfever is caused when the body’s defences overreact to pollen in the air. The pollen causes a release of a substance called histamine from the cells in the body and, as a result, stimulates the allergic reaction that causes many of the symptoms associated with hayfever. The amount of pollen in the air depends on the time of year and the weather.
What is pollen?
Pollens are microscopic particles produced by flowers which enable plants to reproduce by forming fruits and seeds. Certain pollens are only active at certain times of the day, so sufferers who are allergic to pollen usually know when to take precautions. The higher the ‘pollen count’ is, the worse hayfever can be.
Hayfever management

Trying to avoid pollen during the summer season is impossible, however there are some things you can do to limit your exposure:
• Check TV, radio and internet reports each day to find out when the pollen forecast is high
• Keep car windows closed when driving to avoid contact with pollen
• Dry your laundry indoors, as pollen can stick to it outdoors
• Shower and wash your hair before you go to bed, as pollen can also stick to your hair • Wearing wraparound sunglasses can help stop pollen irritating your eyes
• If your eyes are itching, try not to rub them as rubbing eyes DOES make them worse!
• Wash your hands if you stroke a pet as they often pick up pollen in their fur
• Try to avoid being outdoors during pollen peak times; avoid parks, fields and walking through long grass.
Treatments available for Allergy and Hayfever
There are a variety of treatments available to relieve allergies and hayfever and these take many different forms. There are oral tablets or syrups, nasal sprays, eye drops and skin creams. Children’s formulas are also available to help treat your little ones.
Oral Treatments
Oral treatments take the form of tablets or syrup. You can either take a onea- day treatment such as Piriteze or Zirtek, or a flexible dosage treatment such as Benadryl Allergy Relief or Piriton. Syrups are ideal for those who have difficulty swallowing tablets and are also popular for children.
Nasal Sprays
Nasal sprays can relieve allergy symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose. Products which contain steroids can help stop your hayfever symptoms arising if taken a few days before and during the hayfever season. Always follow the instructions on pack.
Eye Drops
Eye drops are an effective way to treat itchy and watery eyes. Certain eye drops can be used to prevent the symptoms from occurring. Using these treatments in combination with other treatments often offers maximum relief.
Skin Creams
Allergy relief creams provide soothing, cooling effects and fast relief from various kinds of skin irritation.
Allergy and Hayfever Treatments for Children
If your child is frequently sneezing and wiping their nose it’s possible that they may have an allergy or hayfever. Thankfully there are treatments available which are suitable for children and we’ve highlighted some of these products opposite. Symptoms of hayfever can affect a child’s ability to concentrate at school, impairing memory and learning. With exams often falling right in the middle of the pollen season it’s no wonder that you as a parent are anxious about how well your child will cope. 1 in 3 children in the UK have some kind of allergic condition and as a result teachers should have knowledge in dealing with allergies and related problems*, but the following may help:
• Ensure the school has the relevant information regarding the medical problem
• Make sure your child takes their medication as required
• If your child is sitting exams and is troubled by hayfever – ask the school to inform the examination board
• Check pollen forecasts regularly.
Top tips for treating
your tots:
• Wipe the faces of babies or toddlers often to remove pollen from their eyes
• Use a non biological washing powder
• Try vacuuming their mattresses to remove allergens.
Please ask your pharmacist for more information about suitable products for your children.
Prevention
As always, prevention is better than cure, and there are ways in which you can protect yourself from allergens such as pollen and dust mites. Liquid ionisers disperse tiny droplets which capture pollen particles and other allergens and cause them to drop to the floor, with the added bonus of fragrancing the room at the same time.
Duvet and mattress protection covers also help prevent allergy conditions. Please ask your pharmacist for further details.