Pollen allergy: managing seasonal symptoms

An immune response to pollen can cause nasal and eye symptoms. Sneezing, watery discharge, a blocked nose and itching are common, and exposure may bring them back. Year-round symptoms may involve dust mites, animal allergens or other causes. Duration, effects on sleep and accompanying breathing symptoms guide assessment.

Note the months, places and activities associated with worse symptoms. Share medicines tried, their effects and side effects such as drowsiness. Unclear causes or severe symptoms may need further assessment; not every runny nose requires an extensive allergy test package.

Antihistamines, which reduce allergy symptoms, nasal sprays or eye drops may be selected individually. Sedating medicines can make driving unsafe; ask about suitability for children, pregnancy and other conditions. Using decongestant sprays longer than advised can worsen blockage. Specialist-supervised allergen immunotherapy may be considered for selected patients; it is not a guaranteed cure for everyone, and hospital availability needs confirmation.

Seek assessment for wheeze, night cough or increasing breathlessness; follow your personal action plan if asthma worsens. Call 112 for tongue or throat swelling, breathing difficulty affecting speech or fainting. If prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector for anaphylaxis, use it according to your plan; do not wait for an allergy tablet alone to work.