What is Hay Fever?

Hay fever is a seasonal ailment which is caused by pollens that are given off by various plants. The pollens float through the air at approximately the same time every year. The pollen that is in the air may cause your mouth to itch, your eyes to itch, tear or get swollen. Your nose could be congested along with excessive sneezing.

Hay fever is also known as allergic rhinitis or pollenosis. Allergic rhinitis is an allergen inflammation of the nasal airways. It occurs when an allergen such as pollen or dust is inhaled by an individual with a sensitized immune system. This triggers antibody production. The production causes itching, swelling and mucus. Very sensitive people could experience hives or similar type rashes. Chemicals like chlorine and detergents can aggravate the condition.

There are two types of allergic rhinitis. The first type occurs seasonally during pollen seasons. Seasonal pollenosis does not usually develop until after six years of age. The second type is perennial. This occurs at any time. It can be common in any age child and adult.

Pollens of specific seasonal plants trigger hay fever. This allergy is named such because it is most prevalent during the time hay is being harvested. There is a chance depending on where you live; you could suffer from this condition throughout the year. Tiny, hardly visible pollens of wind-pollinated plants are the cause of allergic rhinitis. Here is a list of plants that rank high in percentage of causing this allergy. In the tree category the likes of pine, birch, alder, cedar, hazel nut, horse chestnut, willow, polar and olive trees are on the top of the list. The grasses that top this list are ryegrass and timothy. These two grasses are thought to cause 90% of pollenosis caused by grasses. Topping the list of weeds are ragweed, plantation, nettle, mugwort and sorrel.

Allergic rhinitis is not contagious. There is no reasoning why some people get it and others do not. It comes down to some people can tolerate the pollens better than others. The people that do not have a high tolerance have a good chance to get hay fever.