There are many treatments for hay fever, including tablets, eye drops, nasal sprays, and syrups. Most of these belong to a family of medicines called antihistamines.

These are effective treatments and they work by blocking a chemical in the body called histamine. Histamine is the cause of hay fever symptoms because it overreacts to pollen that comes into contact with the body.

Hay fever tablets are effective treatments for a range of symptoms, whereas hay fever nasal sprays work specifically against the nasal symptoms of hay fever, like a runny nose. Hay fever eye drops help to treat symptoms affecting the eyes.

Common hay fever symptoms include itchy, red or watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, and runny or blocked nasal passages. It can also cause an itchy throat, mouth and nose.

Less common symptoms include feeling tired and fatigued, losing your sense of smell, headaches and earaches. People with asthma who suffer from hay fever may notice more wheezing and tightness in the chest.

Some of the symptoms can seem like a cold, but hay fever symptoms usually last months. Colds tend to last for around 2 weeks.

People can experience hay fever symptoms (allergic rhinitis) from other sources of allergies such as dust mites and animal dander. If you notice symptoms at unusual times of the year, such as winter, your symptoms may be caused by a different source of allergies.

Useful links: https://www.pollen.ie/