Spring has arrived, and unfortunately for many of us, so has Hay Fever!
Hay Fever is the common term used to describe the symptoms of sneezing, nasal congestion, red itchy watery eyes and headache related to exposure to the grass & tree pollens that are in the air in Spring. In some cases, like with parents first encountering this condition in their child, they might not be able to determine the child’s ailment and take him to a doctor specializing in pediatric otolaryngology. This is due to the fact that the symptoms are respiratory for the most part. The good news is that an ENT will be more than capable of recognizing the signs and prescribe the proper treatment and symptom management accordingly.
Hay Fever Management
So what can you do to best manage these symptoms?
- Check the daily pollen forecast. A very useful app is available providing pollen counts and also forecasts of thunderstorm asthma. You can download the Melbourne Pollen Count mobile app here. On high pollen count days you may need to say indoors
- Take anti-histamine tablets as needed – these are available over the counter from your pharmacy
- Consider daily use of a corticosteroid nasal spray – this needs to be taken continuously throughout the Hay Fever season to prevent symptoms
- Anti-histamine eye drops can be helpful for itchy red eyes
- If symptoms are severe and recurring each year, talk to your doctor about allergy testing and desensitization immunotherapy
Asthma & Hayfever
Remember that people with Hay Fever may also be at risk of getting Thunderstorm Asthma. This can happen when a high or extreme pollen count day combines with a particular type of thunderstorm, turbocharging the spread of pollens. Consult your doctor about whether you may also benefit from having an asthma reliever inhaler such as Ventolin or Symbicort on standby.
Southgate Medical
Hay Fever Management