We have moved to warmer weather, but for 1-in-5 South African’s, Spring is a dreaded season that unleashes an allergy known as hay fever. While hay fever is not curable there are some steps you can put in place to make this season less miserable.
How does hay fever get activated?
Understanding how hay fever operates can make it easier for people to manage the symptoms. The triggers for allergic rhinitis are caused by allergens that can be found indoors and outdoors such as trees, pollen, mould, or animal dander. The airborne allergens such as pollen are what lead to the irritation in your nostrils, eyes and throat, causing an unpleasant sensation for people who suffer from allergic rhinitis.
Signs of hay fever
Hay fever tends to last longer than the common cold. It usually goes on for weeks or months. Some of the common symptoms that you may experience:
Sneezing
Coughing
Runny or blocked nose
Itchy or irritated eyes
Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
Headache
Earache
Feeling tired
How is Hay Fever different from COVID-19?
Since we are still in a pandemic, it can become confusing to determine whether you are suffering from hay fever or COVID-19. Although the symptoms can be similar the difference with COVID-19 symptoms are:
Fever
Dry cough
Tiredness
Body aches
Headaches
Difficulty in breathing
Loss of taste and smell
Are there ways to treat rhinitis?
There are ways in which you can keep the symptoms for allergic rhinitis under control. However, it is vital to consult a doctor to receive the right medication or measures to alleviate the irritation that you are experiencing. They will also be able to conduct tests to see what causes the triggers and how you could possibly avoid them where possible.
You could consider using a nasal spray to ease the congestion in your nose. This will differ if you have acute sinusitis or chronic sinusitis and may require specific treatment. Remember to always consult a doctor before using certain medication.
