Explaining hayfever

The medical term for hayfever is 'seasonal allergic rhinitis'. It is a common allergic condition that varies in prevalence, depending on the time of year and develops when the body’s immune system reacts to pollen as if it were something harmful. 

Produced by plants, including grass, trees and weeds, pollen is harmless to most people, but for those with hayfever, contact with pollen causes the body to release a type of antibody to attack the allergen. The immune system then releases chemicals, including histamine, which causes the symptoms of hayfever. 

The symptoms and the severity of hayfever can vary widely from person to person, and these also depend on the type of pollen a person is allergic to.

Common symptoms include: 

• Sneezing
• A runny nose
• Nasal congestion
• Coughing
• Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
• Itchy, red or watery eyes.