Warning to one in four Australians living with hay fever as spring approaches, pollen rises

A warning has been issued to the one-in-four Australians with hay fever who in a few weeks will be at the mercy of their annual springtime flare up.

While many have accepted hay fever as an unavoidable consequence of spring, doctors say proper diagnosis and treatment can make all the difference.

Those who suffer the worst of allergic rhinitis, the condition’s technical term, shouldn’t dismiss their symptoms, said clinical immunologist Dr Daman Langguth.

“Hay fever is often dismissed as a seasonal inconvenience, but for many people it can have a real impact on sleep, concentration, work, school and overall quality of life,” Dr Langguth said.

Latest research from the National Allergy Centre of Excellence and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute found almost one in four (23.9 per cent) of Australians suffer from hay fever, compared to the fewer than one in 10 (7 per cent) with a food allergy.

It’s one of the most common allergic diseases, with grass, tree and weed pollens, as well as mould spores, among the most common triggers of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Symptoms include sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itching of the nose or throat, frequent sniffing and persistent throat clearing. They often peak during spring and summer, but can occur year-round depending on the allergens.

Specialist GP and director of Allergy First — a primary care-led network dedicated to allergy care — Dr Aaron Chambers said as allergic disease becomes more widespread, so too does the need for better access to allergy care in the community.

“With allergic conditions affecting more Australians than ever before, timely access to diagnosis and personalised management has never been more important,” Dr Chambers said.

It is recommended those who experience recurring hay fever symptoms to seek assessment early ahead of rising pollen levels.