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When to Call for Hay Fever (Nose Allergy)

Care Advice

What You Should Know about Hay Fever (Nose Allergies):

• Hay fever is very common.
• Nose and eye symptoms can be controlled by taking allergy medicines.
• Pollens are in the air every day during pollen season. So, allergy meds must be taken daily. Different plants and trees shed their pollen at different times of the year. When your hay fever occurs depends which types of pollen you are allergic to and how long your hay fever season lasts. Allergy medicines need to be used for 2 months or longer during pollen season.
• If you have asthma or eczema, you are more likely to develop hay fever.
• Common symptoms include sneezing, itchy nose, blocked or runny nose, watering itchy eyes. Less common: pain in the face, loss of smell, sweats and headache. At times, there may be wheeze.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Allergy Medicines:

• Allergy medicines are called antihistamines. They work best for nasal allergies.
• They will help control the symptoms: runny nose, itchy nose and sneezing.
• You can take a short-acting allergy med (such as Benadryl). No prescription is needed. It needs to be taken every 6 to 8 hours.
• The bedtime dose is important for healing the lining of the nose.
• The key to control is to take allergy meds every day during pollen season.

Long-Acting Allergy Medicines:

• You can also use a long-acting allergy medicine (such as Zyrtec). No prescription is needed.
• Advantage: causes less drowsiness than older allergy meds such as Benadryl. It is also long-acting and last up to 24 hours.
• Dose: follow the dosage advice on the package.
• Downside: doesn't control hay fever symptoms as well as older allergy medicines. Also, you may have breakthrough symptoms before 24 hours. If that happens, you can take a single dose of Benadryl.
• Cost: look for a store brand. Reason: costs less than the brand name products.

Nasal Saline to Wash Out Pollen:

• Use saline (salt water) nose drops or spray (such as store brand). This helps to wash out pollen or to loosen up dried mucus. If you don't have saline, you can use a few drops of water. Use bottled water, distilled water or boiled tap water.
• Step 1: put 3 drops in each nostril.
• Step 2: blow each nostril out while closing off the other nostril. Then, do the other side.
• Step 3: repeat nose drops and blowing until the discharge is clear.
• How often: do nasal saline rinses when you can't breathe through the nose. Also, do them if the nose is very itchy.
• Saline nose drops or spray can be bought in any drugstore. No prescription is needed.
• Other option: stand in a warm shower to loosen mucus. Breathe in the moist air, then blow each nostril.

Eye Allergy Treatment:

• For eye symptoms, wash off the face and eyelids. This will remove pollen or any other allergens.
• Then put a cold wet washcloth on the eyes.
• Most often, an allergy medicine taken by mouth will help the eye symptoms. Sometimes, eye drops are also needed (see below).

Antihistamine Eye Drops for Eye Allergy Symptoms:

• Often, an oral allergy med for nose allergies will also control the eye allergy symptoms.
• If the eyes remain itchy, buy some antihistamine eye drops. Ask your pharmacist to suggest a brand (such as Pataday). No prescription is needed.
• Dose: follow package directions.
• For severe allergies, use antihistamine eyedrops every day during pollen season. This will give the best control.

Wash Pollen Off Body:

• Remove pollen from the hair and skin with shampoo and a shower. This is important if you have been outdoors and before bedtime.

What to Expect:

• Since pollen allergies recur each year, learn to control the symptoms.

Pollen - How to Reduce the Pollen You Breathe:

• Pollen is carried in the air.
• Keep windows closed in the home, at least in your bedroom.
• Keep windows closed in car. Turn the air conditioner on recirculate. You can buy pollen filters for the air vents.
• Avoid window fans or attic fans. They pull in pollen.
• Try to stay indoors on windy days. Reason: the pollen count is much higher when it's dry and windy.
• Avoid playing with the outdoor dog. Reason: pollen collects in the fur.

Pollen Count:

• You can get your daily pollen count for your location from Pollen.com. Just type in your zip code.
• Stay indoors as much as you can when the pollen count is high. Avoid gardening or cutting the grass.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Symptoms are not better in 2 days after starting allergy medicine
• You think you need to be seen
• Your symptoms get worse

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.