Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUnderstanding Allergic RhinitisCommon TriggersSymptomsHow to Tell If You Have Hay FeverComplicationsSelf-CareMedications
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Understanding Allergic Rhinitis
Common Triggers
Symptoms
How to Tell If You Have Hay Fever
Complications
Self-Care
Medications
Hay fever, officially known asallergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to pollen, pet dander, mold, or other allergens.Allergic rhinitis symptoms include sneezing and runny nose, watery eyes, and itchiness. These symptoms happen when your body encounters the allergen, and your immune system mistakenly thinks it’s a threat.
Some people with hay fever experience it as seasonal allergies (like with a pollen allergy), while others have symptoms year round, whenever they encounter the substance they’re allergic to.
RealPeopleGroup / Getty Images
Hay fever occurs when the body’s immune system perceives a harmless substance, such as pollen or pet hair, as a threat. The body then stages an immune response, which triggers hay fever symptoms like sneezing and runny nose. Hay fever is common: more than 1 in 4 American adults experience it.
Some people experience hay fever seasonally. If you have seasonal allergies, you’ll get hay fever when the substance you’re allergic to is more common in the environment, like tree pollen in the spring, fire smoke in the summer, and ragweed in the fall.
Common Triggers of Hay Fever
The most common triggers of seasonal allergies are spores from plants, including:
Common triggers of perennial allergic rhinitis include:
Some people also experience irritation similar to hay fever in reaction to pollutants or chemicals, including:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ and ©Waikato District Health Boardwww.dermnetnz.org2022.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ and ©Waikato District Health Boardwww.dermnetnz.org2022.
The most common symptoms of hay fever are sneezing and a runny nose. Some people also experience congestion in their nose and post-nasal drip. Other common symptoms include:
These primary symptoms can lead to secondary symptoms and impacts, including:
If you experience symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny nose that come on suddenly, you may be experiencing hay fever. Take note of when and where you experience symptoms, and talk with your healthcare provider about diagnosing hay fever. Remember, although seasonal allergies are common, they are treatable, and you don’t need to live with symptoms.
Collecting the following information can help your healthcare provider make a diagnosis:
Hay Fever or Common Cold?
A common cold and hay fever can cause a stuffy, runny nose and sore throat without an actual fever. That can make it difficult to tell the two conditions apart. However, the two conditions do feel slightly different. One way to tell the conditions apart is that a cold can lead to general body aches and pain, which allergies rarely do. On the other hand, itchiness throughout the face, nose, and mouth is common with allergies but not with colds.
Another hint is how long symptoms last. Colds typically don’t last for longer than two weeks, but allergies can last as long as you’re exposed to the substance you’re allergic to.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Although allergies can be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, you should talk with your healthcare provider if you experience hay fever. Your healthcare provider can make a diagnosis and help create a treatment plan that will work for you.
How Allergies Are Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will first ask about your history of hay fever and when you experience symptoms. To identify what you’re allergic to, they’ll likely recommendallergy testing. The most common is skin testing, where a small amount of allergen is put onto your skin, to see how your body reacts. In rarer cases, your healthcare provider may order a blood test to confirm your allergy.
Can Hay Fever Cause Complications?
The primary symptoms of hay fever can lead to secondary symptoms and complications. Ear infections, sinus infections, and worsening asthma can all be complications of hay fever, especially if it’s chronic.
In addition, hay fever can lead to poor sleep, irritability, and trouble making decisions. This can impact performance at school or work and leave you at a higher risk of being in an accident.
Self-Care Methods and Devices to Reduce Symptoms
Home remedies for allergies play a big role in treating hay fever symptoms. The biggest change is avoiding your allergen when possible. Here’s how:
Medications for Hay Fever
Over-the-counter medicationsandprescription medicationsare very effective at treating hay fever. The medications that are available include:
Long-Term Allergy Treatment: Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy, commonly delivered via allergy shots, is a long-term solution for allergies. It introduces the allergen to your body to train your immune system not to react to it.
Summary
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Allergens and pollen.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Hay fever (rhinitis).Ramachandran M, Aronson JK.John Bostock’s first description of hayfever.J R Soc Med. 2011. doi:10.1258/jrsm.2010.10k056Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy facts and figures.Yale Medicine.Seasonal allergies.NIH.Cold, flu or allergies?American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Hay fever medication.American College of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Allergy immunotherapy,
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Allergens and pollen.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Hay fever (rhinitis).Ramachandran M, Aronson JK.John Bostock’s first description of hayfever.J R Soc Med. 2011. doi:10.1258/jrsm.2010.10k056Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy facts and figures.Yale Medicine.Seasonal allergies.NIH.Cold, flu or allergies?American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Hay fever medication.American College of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Allergy immunotherapy,
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Allergens and pollen.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Hay fever (rhinitis).Ramachandran M, Aronson JK.John Bostock’s first description of hayfever.J R Soc Med. 2011. doi:10.1258/jrsm.2010.10k056Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy facts and figures.Yale Medicine.Seasonal allergies.NIH.Cold, flu or allergies?American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Hay fever medication.American College of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Allergy immunotherapy,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Allergens and pollen.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Hay fever (rhinitis).
Ramachandran M, Aronson JK.John Bostock’s first description of hayfever.J R Soc Med. 2011. doi:10.1258/jrsm.2010.10k056
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy facts and figures.
Yale Medicine.Seasonal allergies.
NIH.Cold, flu or allergies?
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Hay fever medication.
American College of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Allergy immunotherapy,
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
