Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen. It is usually worse between late March and September, especially when the weather is warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is often at its highest.

Hay fever can cause symptoms for weeks or months. This is different from a cold, which usually gets better within 1 to 2 weeks.

If you have asthma

Hay fever can make asthma symptoms worse. Speak to a pharmacist, GP practice or asthma nurse if hay fever is affecting your breathing, making you wheeze, or making you use your reliever inhaler more than usual.

Call 999 if you are struggling to breathe, cannot speak in full sentences, or your reliever inhaler is not helping.

A pharmacist can help with hay fever

Hay fever is covered by the NHS Wales Common Ailments Scheme. A pharmacist can give free advice and may be able to provide treatment if the service is available at that pharmacy.

Treatments may include antihistamine tablets, eye drops or nasal sprays to help with sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, and a blocked nose.

Read NHS 111 Wales hay fever advice Find a pharmacy

Check the pollen forecast

Checking the pollen forecast can help you plan ahead and manage symptoms on high pollen days.

Check the Met Office pollen forecast
Check if you have hay fever

Symptoms of hay fever include:

  • sneezing and coughing
  • a runny or blocked nose
  • itchy, red or watery eyes
  • itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
  • loss of smell
  • pain around your temples and forehead
  • headache
  • earache
  • feeling tired

If you have asthma, hay fever may also make you:

  • feel tight in your chest
  • feel short of breath
  • wheeze or cough
How to ease hay fever symptoms

There is currently no cure for hay fever, but there are things you can do to reduce your contact with pollen and ease symptoms.

Do

  • put petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, around your nostrils to help trap pollen
  • wear wraparound sunglasses to help stop pollen getting into your eyes
  • shower and change your clothes after being outside
  • stay indoors when the pollen count is high, if you can
  • keep windows and doors shut as much as possible
  • vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth
  • consider using a pollen filter for the air vents in your car
  • consider using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter

Do not

  • do not cut grass or walk on grass if this makes your symptoms worse
  • do not spend too much time outside when the pollen count is high
  • do not keep fresh flowers in the house
  • do not smoke or be around smoke, as this can make symptoms worse
  • do not dry clothes outside, as they can catch pollen
  • do not let pets into bedrooms or onto soft furnishings if they have been outside, as they can carry pollen indoors
Get more tips from Allergy UK
When to see a GP

See a GP if:

  • your symptoms are getting worse
  • your symptoms do not improve after using medicines from a pharmacy
  • hay fever is affecting your asthma or breathing
  • you are not sure whether your symptoms are hay fever or something else
Treatments from a GP

Your GP may prescribe a steroid treatment, such as a steroid nasal spray, if pharmacy treatments have not helped.

If steroid treatments and other hay fever medicines do not work, your GP may refer you for immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy means you are given small amounts of pollen, usually as an injection or tablet, to slowly build up your tolerance to pollen. This kind of treatment usually starts in the winter, about 3 months before the hay fever season begins.

Immunotherapy is a specialist service and may not be available everywhere.

What causes hay fever?

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen. It usually happens when pollen comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes or throat.

Pollen is a fine powder released by plants. The amount and type of pollen in the air depends on the time of year and where you are.