Hay fever is a common allergy affecting one in five people which leaves sufferers sneezing, coughing and with itchy eyes for months every year. However it has no cure, leaving those with the condition trying to find ways of treating it and managing the symptoms.

According to the NHS, the most common cause is an allergic reaction to pollen - usually when it comes into contact with the mouth, nose, eyes and throat. And with pollen season running in various forms from March to September it can be a long haul, especially if people find it difficult to deal with the symptoms.

Most people with hay fever do not need prescribed medication but instead can tackle it with over-the-counter medication, available at pharmacies and many supermarkets and shops. And there is a 14 to 28-day rule to follow when it comes to treating the condition with shop-bought medication which isn't working.

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The NHS says: "Symptoms are usually worse between late March and September, especially when it's warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest.

"Hay fever can last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after 1 to 2 weeks." It adds the symptoms include:

• Sneezing and coughing


• A runny or blocked nose


• Red, itchy, watery eyes


• Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears


• Headaches and sinus pain


• Feeling tired

The NHS says: "There's currently no cure for hay fever and you cannot prevent it. But you can do things to ease your symptoms when the pollen count is high." It advises sufferers should:

• put petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) around your nostrils to trap pollen




• wear wraparound sunglasses, a mask or a wide-brimmed hat to stop pollen getting into your nose and eyes




• shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off




• keep windows and doors shut as much as possible




• vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth




• try to use a pollen filter in the air vents of your car, if you have one, and a HEPA filter in your vacuum cleaner

It also has advice on some things those with the condition should not do. These include:

• do not cut grass or walk on grass




• do not spend too much time outside




• do not keep fresh flowers in the house




• do not smoke or be around smoke – it makes your symptoms worse




• do not dry clothes outside – they can catch pollen




• do not let pets into the house if possible – they can carry pollen indoors

The NHS Eastwick Park Medical Practice advises those who know they have the condition to start their treatment early. It says: "It is best to start using medicines such as nasal sprays or tablets before your symptoms start."

The practice says people should speak to a pharmacist if they have hay fever as they can give advice on the best treatments. These include:

• antihistamine tablets or liquids


• nasal drops or sprays e.g. antihistamine, decongestant or steroid preparations


• eye drops


• simple pain relief (paracetamol or ibuprofen) for headaches and sinus pain


• salt water nasal sprays/ nasal douching

But it warns you should not take two antihistamines together - such as loratadine, fexofenadine, acrivastine and cetirizine - unless recommended by a doctor. It also advises checking dates on products such as nasal sprays and eye drops as many must be discarded after a few weeks to reducethe riskof infection.

It advises: "If you are taking hayfever medication regularly and your hayfever is well controlled on your current treatment, continue this treatment until the end of the pollen season."

The NHS Eastwick Park Medical Practice says there is a rule to follow if the medication doesn't appear to be working. It says: "If your hayfever symptoms are not controlled after 2-4 weeks, you may need to try a different treatment or add another treatment. Some trial and error may be required to find the best combination of tablet/nasal spray/eye drops to suit you."

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