Some Basics...

• Allergic rhinitis is the medical term for hay fever.
• Hay fever is an allergic reaction of the nose and sinuses to substances in the air. These include pollen, mold, and dust. Hay fever is a type of nasal allergy.
• Many people think that they have hay fever. Seeing a doctor is important if symptoms are more than mild. A doctor can confirm that it really is hay fever.
• Many people also get watery, itchy eyes with hay fever. These are symptoms of eye allergies (allergic conjunctivitis).
• It is interesting to know people do not get fevers from hay fever.

Symptoms

• Clear runny nose with sneezing, sniffing, and itching
• Itchy, red, and watery eyes
• No fever

Types of Hay Fever

There are two types of hay fever.

• Seasonal allergic rhinitis: Hay fever is a term for seasonal allergies due to pollens. People notice that their symptoms are worse during certain seasons of the year. These people most often have an allergy to pollen, grasses, or trees. Symptoms may be worse in the spring, summer, or fall. Some people may have symptoms in all three seasons. Hay fever is not specifically an allergy to hay. People with hay fever do not have fevers.
• Perennial allergic rhinitis: People with this allergy may have symptoms all year. The symptoms may be present all the time or come and go. They often have an allergy to dust mites, mold, mildew, feathers, or animal dander.

Illnesses that Can Be Confused with Hay Fever

There are other illnesses that have nasal symptoms like those of hay fever. These include:

• Viral rhinitis: This is the common cold. Runny or stuffy nose is the main symptom. The nasal discharge may be clear, cloudy, yellow, or green. The person also often has fever, muscle aches, sore throat, or a headache.
• Bacterial and viral sinusitis: A more common term for this is "sinus infection". People may have yellow or green nasal secretions for at least 10 days. They may also have sinus pain and a fever that comes and goes.  
• Rhinitis medicamentosa: This is from overuse of over-the-counter decongestant nose drops. It can cause the nose to get even stuffier than it was before. This most often happens after using nose drops for longer than 5 days.
• Occupational exposure: Irritants in the air at work can cause nasal problems.

1. What You Should Know:
   • Allergic rhinitis is an allergic reaction of the nose and sinuses to substances in the air. These include pollen, mold, and dust. Hay fever is a type of nasal allergy.
   • You should see a doctor if your symptoms are more than mild.
   • You can treat hay fever at home.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
     
2. Wash Off Pollen Daily: Remove pollen from the body by taking a shower. You should shower before you go to bed.
3. Avoid Pollen:
   • Stay indoors on windy days.
   • Try to keep your windows closed at home. Use an air conditioner.
   • Use a high efficiency house air filter (HEPA or electrostatic).
   • Keep windows closed in your car and turn the AC on recirculate.
   • Avoid playing with outdoor dogs.
4. For a Stuffy Nose - Use Nasal Washes:
   • Salt water washes are a good way to treat hay fever. You can pour, spray, or squirt salt water into your nose. Then let the water run back out.
   • How It Helps: The salt water rinses out mucus, dust, and allergens. It also keeps the nose moist.
   • Methods: There are a few ways to do nasal washes. You can use a:
     • Saline nasal spray bottle (sold over-the-counter)
     • Rubber ear syringe
     • Medical syringe without the needle
     • Neti Pot
   Step-By-Step Instructions:
   • Step 1: Lean over a sink.
   • Step 2: Gently squirt or spray warm salt water into one of your nostrils.
   • Step 3: Some of the water may run into the back of your throat. Spit this out. If you swallow the salt water it will not hurt you.
   • Step 4: Blow your nose to clean out the water and mucus.
   • Step 5: Repeat steps 1-4 for the other nostril. Do this 2 or 3 times a day if it helps you.
   How to Make Salt Water Nasal Wash:
   • You can make your own salt water nasal wash.
   • Add 1/2 tsp of table salt to 1 cup (8 oz.; 240 ml) of warm water.
5. Antihistamine Medications for Hay Fever:
   • Antihistamines help with sneezing, itching, and runny nose.
   • You may need to take them during the whole pollen season. This will help keep your allergies under control.
   • Cetirizine (Zyrtec): This is a newer antihistamine sold over-the-counter (OTC). You should take 10 mg one time per day.
   • Loratadine (Claritin, Alavert): This is a newer antihistamine sold OTC. You should take 10 mg one time per day.
   • Caution: Antihistamines may cause you to feel sleepy. Do not drink, drive, or use dangerous machinery while taking them.
   • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine (Chlortrimeton, Chlor-tripolon) may make you feel drowsy. Loratadine and cetirizine do not cause you to feel as sleepy. They are also long-acting so they last 24 hours.
   • Read all package instructions.
6. Nasal Decongestant Nose Drops for Stuffy Nose:
   • Antihistamines do not help stuffy noses. Decongestant nose drops do. They can help you breathe better.
   • Phenylephrine nose drops (Neo-Synephrine): These are sold OTC. Blow your nose to clean out the mucus before using. Spray each nostril once. Wait one minute and then spray a second time.
   • Caution: Do not take nasal decongestants if you have high blood pressure, heart disease or an enlarged prostate. Do not take these drugs if you are pregnant. Do not take these drugs if you have used a MAO inhibitor in the past 2 weeks. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).
   • Do not use these drugs for more than 3 days.
   • Read all package instructions.
7. For Eye Allergies: Wash pollen off your face and eyelids. Then put a cold wet compress on your face and eyelids. Antihistamines will most often help you feel better.
8. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Using antihistamines for 2 days and symptoms are not better
   • You get worse

1. Neti Pot:
   • The Neti Pot is a small pot with a thin spout. It looks like a small tea pot.
   • How It Helps: You can use the Neti Pot for a nasal wash. The salt water rinses out mucus, dust, and allergens. It also keeps the nose moist.
   • Indications: Neti Pots are used to help colds, sinus infections, and nasal allergies.
   • Adverse Reactions: None. Though, not all people like the feeling of pouring water into their nose.
   • See Internet video for instructions, such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8sDIbRAXlg
2. Neti Pot STEP-BY-STEP Instructions:
   • Step 1: Follow the directions on the salt package to make warm salt walter.
   • Step 2: Lean forward and turn your head to one side over the sink. Keep your forehead slightly higher than your chin.
   • Step 3: Gently insert the spout of the neti pot into the higher nostril. Put it far enough so that it forms a comfortable seal.
   • Step 4: Raise the Neti Pot slowly. The salt water flows in through your higher nostril and out of the lower nostril. Breathe through your mouth.
   • Step 5: When the Neti Pot is empty, blow your nose. This will clean out the water and mucus.
   • Step 6: Some of the water may run into the back of your throat. Spit this out. If you swallow the salt water, it will not hurt you.
   • Step 7: Refill the Neti Pot and repeat on the other side. Blow your nose again. Blow out all of the salt water and mucus.
   How to Make Saline (Salt Water) Nasal Wash:
   • You can make your own saline nasal wash.
   • Add 1/2 tsp of table salt to 1 cup (8 oz.; 240 ml) of warm water.