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Hay Fever

Hay Fever symptoms are responsible for ruined exams and the lives of millions in glorious weather.

Hay Fever Symptoms

Do you suffer with hay fever symptoms of itchy nose, runny eyes, continual sneezing in the summer? Are you fed up with not being able to enjoy those rare sunny days because your symptoms get worse?

You are not alone! Hay fever is one of the most common allergic conditions. It affects up to one in five people at some point in their life. It is estimated that there are more than 10 million people who suffer with hay fever symptoms in England.

For example, the impact of pollen allergy on teenage students' quality of life and exam performance seems to be much greater than previously thought. A study in 2007 found that students who reported they are suffering with hay fever, were 40% more likely to drop a grade between their mock and GCSE exams.

The frequently reported tiredness during the pollen season may be partly caused by the congestion, which affects the quality of sleep and the constant activation of some allergy cells to cope with the pollen.

Conventional Hay Fever Medication

Many hay fever sufferers control their symptoms with antihistamines and/or nasal sprays. However, some people suffer so badly with their allergies they find medications ineffective or they make them drowsy. Others do not wish to continually use pharmaceutical medicines.

Tests for Hay Fever

Skin prick tests are an easy and quick way to identify reactions to common allergens, such as pollens, trees, grasses, house dust mite and animal dander. These tests are usually carried out at the initial consultation.

After two injections we waited for summer, expecting to start sneezing. I kept carrying around all my old hay fever tablets and sending my son to school with them just in case, but we didn't need them. The hay fever didn't start. My best memory is running across a field near our house. I love to run. I had always stopped between May and September. Now here I was in the middle of summer, running my favourite route, with no tissues, no snivelling, it felt fantastic.

S. P., Kent

Treatment for Hay Fever

For many the most successful form of hay fever treatment is Desensitisation. The aim is to help your immune system to handle the “foreign body” of the pollen that causes your symptoms. In a similar way to a travel smallpox vaccination, which helps the body develop its own immunity to the virus, the EPD (Enzyme Potentiated Desensitisation) treatment works by building up your immunity by exposing the blood cells to very weak concentrations of the allergen, such as pollens. The dose of allergen needed is extremely low which makes this treatment extremely safe.

How We Can Help You

Initial consultation one hour - £250.00
Skin prick tests to identify the inhalants you are reacting to - £85.00 (Max)
Normally 2 pre-season injections, min 8 - 10 weeks apart - £150.00 each

Some people find that, after a few years’ treatment, they only need one pre-seasonal dose to maintain the benefit. A more intensive course of 4 doses per annum, over a 3-5 year period, has been shown to bring about a long-term clearance of pollen allergy.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

Identifying the root cause

Confirm which pollens you are allergic to with skin tests or blood tests.
Use preventative treatment with desensitisation 2-3 doses pre-seasonally - see Desensitisation.
Help you to alleviate your symptoms during the pollen season with sub-lingual immunotherapy.

SPECIALIST TIPS AND NOTES

As cereals and grains belong to the grass family and dairy products come from cattle feeding on grass, symptoms caused by allergy to grass pollen often improve if these foods are avoided during the grass pollen season.
The severity of symptoms caused by allergy to tree pollens can be reduced if an air-flter is used at home to purify the air.