Hay Fever: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

What is hay fever?

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, or simply 'hayfever', is an allergic reaction to pollen. The symptoms often peak March and September, though symptoms can be seasonal, weather-dependent and vary with environmental conditions, disrupting daily life but typically not posing a serious health risk. When managed with the right medication and lifestyle changes, hay fever symptoms can be brought under control, whether that's an acute, chronic or perennial allergy.

Man blowing his nose at his home office desk while working on a laptop

What causes hay fever?

Hay fever occurs when your immune system mistakenly identifies pollen as harmful, triggering a Type I, IgE-mediated histamine release from mast cells, releasing histamine, which triggers the familiar symptoms of sneezing, itchy eyes, and a blocked nose.

There are several different types of pollen, but most people who have hay fever are allergic to grass pollen. You might also be allergic to tree pollen, weeds, and fungal spores.

Common symptoms of hay fever

Hay fever symptoms are often worse on warm, dry days (often extrinsic, pollen-related and allergen-induced) and include:

Symptom Area

 What you might notice 

Nasal

Sneezing, coughing and nasal congestion, as the nasal passages inflame and become obstructed — the same reflex that triggers repeated sneezing. 

Eyes

Itchy, red or watery eyes, often described as pruritic, ocular symptoms. 

Throat, mouth & ears

Sore throat, earache, a loss of smell, or itching in the throat, mouth, nose and ears. 

Nose

A runny or blocked nose — medically known as rhinorrhoea. 

Head 

Pain in the head, and in more noticeable cases, ocular itching or conjunctivitis. 

Treating hay fever

Over-the-counter treatments such as antihistamines, nasal sprays, and eye drops can often manage hay fever. If symptoms are severe or persistent, you can book an appointment with a GP or Advanced Clinical Practitioner to discuss how to optimise your treatment.

Preventing hay fever symptoms

If you know you suffer from hay fever, it’s a good idea to make a few changes to your lifestyle:

  • Keep an eye on the pollen count. Between March and September, check the daily pollen count so you can be prepared when it's very high.

  • Reduce your exposure at home and on the move. Stay inside with the windows closed on high-pollen days where possible, and fit a pollen filter in your car, keeping the windows closed when driving. Avoid drying washing outside, and always shower and change your clothes after coming inside on a high-pollen day.

  • Protect yourself when you're outdoors. Avoid grassy areas, wear wraparound sunglasses to protect your eyes, and put a barrier balm (e.g. Vaseline) around the insides of your nostrils — this picks up pollen and stops it entering your nose.

  • Get familiar with hay fever pharmacy treatments. Keep antihistamines to hand, particularly during the summer, and use preventative treatments such as nasal sprays.

Close-up of a woman blowing her nose while sitting on a sofa

Frequently asked questions

Here are direct answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about hay fever.

Your immune system mistakes pollen for a threat and becomes sensitised to it after repeated allergen exposure. Next time you’re exposed, mast cells react to degranulate and secrete histamine, which provokes and exacerbates your allergic response — a process mediated by immunoglobulin E. Not every exposure feels equally symptomatic; some people stay largely asymptomatic between flare-ups. Treatment can ease an active reaction, but it doesn’t desensitise or immunise you against future seasons.

There isn’t one single best option — it depends on your symptoms. A hayfever nasal spray tends to work well for nasal symptoms.  Hayfever tablets (usually antihistamines) are useful for more severe symptoms. If over-the-counter hayfver medication isn't controlling things, a GP or Advanced clinical practitioner can help you optimise your treatment.

Yes — kids hay fever medicine (sometimes labelled hay fever medicine for kids) is widely available, usually as a lower-dose antihistamine or a child-specific nasal spray. It’s worth checking the dosing carefully or asking a pharmacist before giving any new medicine to a child.

A seasonal allergy flares up at predictable times of year — typically when tree, grass or weed pollen counts are high — while a perennial allergy causes similar symptoms all year round, often triggered by indoor allergens rather than pollen.

Yes — itchy, watery eyes are one of the most common ocular symptoms of hay fever, and in more noticeable cases this can develop into allergic conjunctivitis, where the eyes become visibly red and inflamed. Wraparound sunglasses and antihistamine eye drops can both help.

It’s worth booking a GP or Advanced Clinical Practitioner appointment if over-the-counter treatments aren’t controlling your symptoms, or if you’re not sure whether what you’re experiencing is hay fever at all. A quick consultation can rule out other causes and get you onto a more effective treatment plan sooner.

See a UK GP today

Skip the wait — book an online appointment and get expert advice from a UK-registered clinician in as little as 2 hours. 

Related Topics