Common Hay Fever Symptoms

Hay fever symptoms start as soon as you have been exposed to specific allergy-causing substance called allergens. These symptoms include runny nose, nasal congestion, watery or itchy eyes, sneezing, cough, itchy nose, itchy roof of your mouth, itchy throat, sinus pressure, and facial pain. Additional symptoms are swollen, blue-colored skin under the eyes that is referred to as allergic shiners and decreased sense of smell or taste. Post nasal drip of clear mucus is a symptom.  In severe conditions nose bleeds may occur. Allergic rhinitis is inflammation and irritation of the nasal passages caused by seasonal hay fever.

Hay fever symptoms may begin or get worse at a certain time each year. Hay fever is the most common chronic disease. It is the most common reason for chronic sinus and nose problems. These symptoms are triggered by tree pollen, grass or weeds which all bloom at various times. Fresh cut grass or weeds that have been sprayed also are triggers.  One is most likely to get hay fever during childhood or early adult life. However, symptoms could happen at any age. It is also common that through the years your hay fever symptoms and reactions will change. The majority of times these symptoms tend to decrease year after year to the point that you will have very few symptoms of hay fever or you may have no hay fever at all.

Do you have hay fever or a cold?

Since both have similarities this is how you tell if your symptoms are for hay fever. With hay fever there is a runny nose with thin watery discharge. There is no body fever. For a cold you would have a runny nose with watery or thick yellow discharge, body aches and a low-grade body fever. The onset of hay fever is immediately after you have had exposure to allergens. A cold on the other hand takes one to three days to develop after you have exposure to a cold virus. The duration of hay fever is as long as you are exposed to allergens. The duration of a cold is five to seven days.