Do you have hay fever?
1 September 2020:
With the changing of seasons from winter to spring coinciding with National Asthma Awareness Week (1-7 September 2020), this is a reminder that children and adults with hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and/or asthma should be using proven allergy and asthma treatments regularly and correctly. Airborne pollen increases from September to December in most regions, which can result in more hay fever and asthma symptoms.
Regular and correct treatment of hay fever or asthma is more important than ever in 2020, to avoid symptoms being mistaken for respiratory infections, including COVID-19, and to reduce sneezing and coughing which have the potential to spread infections.
Hay fever affects around one in five people in Australia and New Zealand. Symptoms include:
- Runny, itchy, congested nose.
- Irritable, itchy, watery and red eyes.
- Sneezing and coughing.
- Itchy ears, throat and palate.
Treating hay fever regularly and correctly is important for the following reasons:
- To maintain good general health and prevent complications due to hay fever, including sinusitis.
- To reduce adverse effects from hay fever, including tiredness due to poor sleep quality, impaired learning and reduced productivity.
- To improve asthma control if you have asthma and hay fever.
- To reduce sneezing and coughing due to hay fever, which can spread respiratory infections, such as colds, influenza or COVID-19.
Further information:
www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergic-rhinitis-hay-fever-and-sinusitis
