Topical Hayfever facts
* Hay fever is the commonest allergy in Western countries, affecting an estimated 20 per cent of the population in Britain.
* It is an acute allergic reaction to airborne particles of pollen which penetrate the nose, throat and upper respiratory passages.
* Typical symptoms include red, itchy and watery eyes, blocked or runny nose, frequent sneezing, coughing, and wheezing.
* The symptoms are caused by the over-sensitivity of the mucous membrane that lines the inside of the nose, throat and eyes.
* The commonest cause of hay fever is grass pollen. Pollen from birch trees especially causes hay fever in spring and from mugwort and chrysanthemum in autumn.
* Hay fever affects many people in towns because of pollution. Pollen grains become attached to particles from car exhausts, increasing their allergy-inducing effect.
* Treatment is mostly symptomatic, with anti-histamines and steroids to reduce the inflammation in the mucous membrane.
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