What is hayfever?
The correct medical name for hayfever is 'seasonal allergic rhinitis'. In other words, an allergic condition that varies in prevalence depending on the time of year. In order to understand this minor ailment, it helps to consider what is meant by the term 'allergy'.
An allergy develops when the body's immune system reacts to a trigger (an allergen) as though it were harmful, like an infection. In the case of hayfever, the allergen is the pollen produced by plants, including grass, trees and weeds. For most people, pollen is harmless and exposure to it doesn't cause any health concerns. But for those with hayfever, contact with pollen triggers the body to react as if it were under attack.
An immune response launches and the body releases a type of antibody (IgE) to attack the allergen. The immune system then releases numerous chemicals, including histamine, to prevent the spread of what it perceives to be an infection.
Of course pollen isn't the only thing that can cause an allergic reaction. Almost anything can be an allergen for someone. Common allergens include house dust mites, mould and pets. Less common allergens include nuts, fruit and latex.
In addition, some people find that their allergy symptoms are made worse by exposure to things like aerosol sprays; pollution; extremes of temperature and humidity; and tobacco or wood smoke. These are not common allergens in themselves, but may exacerbate symptoms.
Reflective exercise
Wendy, 38, tells you that she suffers from hayfever every summer for several weeks. Her main symptoms include itchy eyes, a blocked nose and sneezing. She tells you she works in a coffee shop, where she is constantly interacting with customers, so she wants to be well prepared and get her symptoms under control before the start of the hayfever season.
What would you recommend?
Corticosteroid nasal sprays are effective against all of Wendy's symptoms, and are useful for people who suffer from allergies each year for long periods of time. Ask Wendy when her symptoms typically start as the spray can take several days to be effective, so she may need to start using it a couple of weeks earlier. The spray should then be used daily, regardless of whether Wendy has hayfever symptoms or not.
What if:
Wendy tells you that she has a nine-year-old son, Peter, who also suffers from hayfever. She asks whether the corticosteroid nasal spray would be suitable for him. Corticosteroid nasal sprays are suitable from the age of 18 years, so should not be given to Peter. Instead, recommend a drug-free nasal spray or eye drops containing sodium cromoglicate, which can be used as his symptoms start.
What if:
Wendy is also interested in hearing about barrier products against pollen.There are several products available that work to create a barrier that prevents pollen from getting into the nose, or help to clear pollen from the nose. Wendy could try smearing a little Vaseline in each nostril to see if that acts as an effective barrier before investing in an OTC treatment. Otherwise, OTC treatments you could offer include Care Allergy Defence, Haymax, Stérimar Nasal Hygiene Spray and Prevalin.
What if:
One month later, Wendy returns to the pharmacy saying that Peter is a little wheezy and is coughing during the night. Refer Peter to the pharmacist. These symptoms may indicate seasonal asthma, which often occurs with hayfever.
What if:
Wendy mentions that she has agreed to look after a friend's dog, but is worried that the dog may bring pollen into the house. Recommend that Wendy vacuums the house at least once a day €“ she could try a vaccum cleaner specifically designed to remove dog hair and dust, although these are expensive. All surfaces should be dusted daily with a damp cloth. Scrubbing floors, including carpets, with a damp cloth can also be effective. Pets should not be allowed in bedrooms and, if possible, should be restricted to one area of the house. Suggest that Wendy looks up the pollen count each day and walks the dog when the counts are lower. It's also important to wash and brush the dog regularly to remove pollen from its fur.