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Help is at hand for hay fever this spring
30 October 2011
Doctors today urged Victorians to be proactive about preventing and treating hay fever this spring.
“You don’t need to suffer sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny nose in silence. There are a range of steps you can take to avoid the symptoms of hay fever,” said AMA Victoria President Dr Harry Hemley.
“As always, prevention is better than cure so try to stay indoors if there is a high pollen count forecast.”
Dr Hemley warned about the dangers of not treating hay fever when it occurs.
“You can develop a secondary sinus infection from hay fever that can lead to headaches and a fever,” he said. “You should see your doctor if these symptoms persist. Asthmatics must be particularly cautious as hay fever can be associated with a worsening of asthma attacks.”
Hay fever becomes more common during spring time due to the increased amount of grass pollen in the air.
“Dust and pollen get trapped in the tiny hairs and mucus that line the nasal passage,” Dr Hemley said. “People with hay fever have an allergic reaction to the dust or pollen and their immune system responds. This is why the nasal area becomes inflamed and more mucus is produced.”
“If you smear Vaseline or another petroleum jelly inside your nose it can help prevent pollen from causing a reaction. You should also regularly wash your eyes with water to clear out pollen and dust.
“There are a number of treatments available for hay fever from your local pharmacy. Corticosteroid nasal sprays will help to reduce inflammation in the nose.
“Anti-histamine medications can help to control sneezing and itching too but may not be effective at controlling a blocked nose. The right eye drops can help to relieve itchy red eyes.
“If these over-the-counter treatments do not relieve symptoms you should see your family doctor.”
A pollen count forecast can be found at www.asthma.org.au.
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