Atishoo, atishoo — how not to fall down

10:19am Thursday 17th May 2007

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When the clocks went forward a few weeks ago, British summer time began and, as the first signs of sunshine arrive, people are flocking to parks and beaches to soak up every drop of warmth.

Unfortunately, it won't be picnics in the park and weekends in the country for everybody this spring. For many, the sight of blossom on the trees and flowers in bloom fills them with dread. Spring for some simply means hay fever and all the bunged-up sniffles that go with it.

It's a surprisingly common problem - some 15 million Brits are affected by the condition, and the numbers are rising. But what is it and how does it work?

The science behind the sneezes
Hay fever happens when a person has an allergy to pollen. Typically this is grass pollen - 95 per cent of people with the condition react to grass in particular.

Pollen in the air can irritate the surface of the nose, throat, and mouth, so your body thinks it is being attacked and reacts accordingly. It will produce a variety of chemicals, including histamine, which cause the symptoms we know and hate.

It has been suggested by researchers that the allergic reaction is caused by a lack of exposure to harmful allergic substances early in life, as well as a lack of antioxidants. Poor diet has also been touted as a cause, and longer, hotter summers mean people now suffer for a more sustained period.

To add to the misery, more and more fields of aggressively pollinating plants such as oil seed rape are now being sown earlier, bringing on symptoms prematurely.

The symptoms
According to NHS Direct, common symptoms of hay fever include frequent sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy or watery eyes, and an itchy throat, mouth, nose or ears. In rarer cases, the effects can become more serious, and sufferers may experience loss of smell, face pain (caused by blocked sinuses), sweats and headaches.

Some people aren't even aware they are sufferers - the strength of symptoms varies from patient to patient and many people are more sensitive to one pollen than others.

Professor Jean Emberlin from the National Pollen and Aerobiology research unit says the problem is becoming more widespread.

"There has been a definite increase in people getting hay fever for the first time last year, with the pollen count being so exceptionally high," she says.

This year is building up to be as pollen-heavy as last year, so it's important to be prepared.

Sometimes a simple skin test is needed to find out exactly what you are reacting to, but normally hay fever is diagnosed solely on symptoms, and thanks to its timing is easily spotted.

GP Dr Carol Cooper says: "If you're at all unsure whether you have hay fever or not, go and see a doctor, especially if you have any history of asthma and eczema in your family." British Allergy Foundation chief executive Muriel Simmons agrees: "There is a recognised link between hay fever and asthma, so you need to monitor it.

A lot of people who go on to develop asthma have nasal problems but they don't recognise it, they think they go from one cold to another, but in fact they're suffering from rhinitis - which gives you the drippy nose in hay fever."

Bless you
Hay fever for most is more of a temporary nuisance than anything else and can normally be kept under control quite easily. Over-the-counter hay fever medicine is the biggest growing market in pharmacies, with more than £80 million sales in the past year in Britain alone, and there is a huge range to choose from.

Antihistamine tablets are the most common and cheapest method of dealing with hay fever. They fight most of the symptoms, but generally do not help with nasal congestion or stuffiness.

Tablets can cause drowsiness - those that don't tend to be weaker and less efficient.

Antihistamine nasal sprays are also on sale for a quicker fix, and are available without prescription.

There are also eye drops to relieve itching, and for more serious cases you can even get steroid injections that get rid of symptoms for a time, but this is normally only done at especially important times in life such as exam periods, and doesn't provide a permanent solution.

Steroid drops and nasal sprays are more efficient than normal eye drops and antihistamine sprays, but tend to require use a few weeks before the hay fever season begins - regular use is necessary but also very expensive. Prescriptions aren't always needed, but the most useful brands do require them.

Prevention is better than cure
Keep an eye on the pollen count. Most weather services also watch the amount of pollen in the air and will tell you how good the day is going to be for those affected by the allergy.

Large, wrap-around sunglasses will help prevent pollen reaching your eyes.

Vacuum your home regularly with a hospital-grade vacuum cleaner, make sure there aren't any fresh flowers around and keep windows shut if possible.

Smoking can irritate sufferers and aggravate symptoms. Pet hair can also be an irritant, so try and keep animals out of bedrooms.

Unfortunately, avoiding parks and large grassy areas will help, and keep away from that lawnmower - get someone else to cut the grass.

Be careful driving. Excessive sneezing on the roads is a real danger - it forces drivers to shut their eyes and distracts them from the road.