Seasonal allergies: symptoms, relief and how to cope

In short

• Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen. It cannot be cured, but symptoms can be eased.
• Itchy, watery eyes and an itchy nose, throat or ears, with sneezing and a runny nose, are typical.
• A cold usually clears within 1 to 2 weeks, while hay fever can last weeks or months.
• Nasal corticosteroid sprays are described as the most effective treatment, and they work best when used consistently.
• Pollen exposure is linked to asthma attacks, so wheezing or breathlessness in pollen season deserves a conversation with your provider.

Allergy or a cold?

1. ItchingItchy eyes, nose, throat, mouth or ears point to allergy.
2. DurationA cold usually clears within 1 to 2 weeks. Hay fever lasts as long as you are exposed, which can be weeks or months.
3. TimingSymptoms are usually worst in warm, humid, windy weather when pollen counts are highest, and they tend to return around the same time each year.
4. FeverA fever is not a feature of hay fever, so it points to an infection.

If you get a lot of colds in the same weeks every year, particularly with itchy eyes, ask whether it might be hay fever. Early symptoms are an itchy nose, mouth, eyes or throat, a runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and a reduced sense of smell. Later you may have a stuffy nose, cough, clogged ears, a sore throat, dark circles under the eyes, fatigue, irritability and headache.

Everyday steps in pollen season

• Put petroleum jelly around your nostrils to trap pollen.
• Wear wraparound sunglasses, a mask or a wide-brimmed hat outdoors.
• Shower and change your clothes after being outside.
• Keep windows and doors closed as much as you can.
• Vacuum regularly, dust with a damp cloth, and use pollen filters in the car and HEPA filters in the vacuum.
• Avoid drying laundry outside, cutting grass, keeping fresh flowers indoors and being around smoke.
• Rinse your nose with a saline solution made with distilled or sterilized water.

Reducing pollen exposure is the best approach, although complete avoidance is often impossible. Pollen counts are usually higher in warmer seasons, though some plants pollinate year-round.

Which medicines are used

1. Nasal corticosteroid spraysThe most effective treatment. They work best when used consistently, though they can also help when used intermittently, and they are generally safe for children and adults.
2. AntihistaminesEffective for allergy symptoms and available as tablets, drops, nasal sprays and eye drops. Some cause sleepiness, so avoid driving after taking them. Non-drowsy options are available.
3. DecongestantsThese relieve stuffiness, but nasal spray decongestants should not be used for more than 3 days.
4. Saline rinsesUseful in mild cases to clear mucus.

A pharmacist can recommend treatment, and a provider can prescribe stronger options. Leukotriene inhibitors are prescription medicines that can cause anxiety or depression in some people, so discuss any mental health history first. Choice of treatment depends on symptom severity, age and other conditions such as asthma.

Allergy shots and tablets

If symptoms are hard to control and you cannot avoid pollen, a provider may refer you for immunotherapy. Small amounts of the allergen are given by injection or, for some allergies such as grass, dust and ragweed, as a tablet or drops under the tongue, to build up tolerance. Allergy shots can reduce sensitivity to pollen and provide long-term relief.

Treatment usually starts a few months before the pollen season. An allergist decides who it suits.

Asthma and daily life

Pollen exposure is linked to asthma attacks and to more hospital admissions for respiratory problems. If you notice night cough, wheezing or breathlessness during pollen season, tell your provider and do not simply increase nasal drops or antihistamines.

Hay fever can also wear you down in ordinary ways, through poor sleep, tiredness and trouble concentrating. If it is affecting work, school or sleep, that is reason enough to ask for a better plan.

Red flags

Red flags: call 911 for trouble breathing, wheezing, a tight throat, swelling of the lips, tongue or face, hives with dizziness or vomiting, a weak pulse or fainting. These can be signs of anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction. If you have been prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector, give it immediately and still call 911.

See a provider soon for symptoms that do not fit hay fever, such as stuffiness on one side only, bloody discharge, facial pain with fever, or loss of smell that does not return.

When to see a provider and what to ask

See a provider if symptoms are getting worse, if they do not improve after pharmacy medicines, if treatment that used to work no longer does, or if symptoms are severe. A provider usually diagnoses hay fever from a physical exam and your symptoms, and skin tests or blood tests are sometimes used to find the trigger.

• Which allergens are causing my symptoms, and do I need testing?
• When should I start treatment before the season?
• Which nasal spray suits me, and how do I use it correctly?
• Am I a candidate for allergy shots?
• Do I have signs of asthma that need checking?

Questions and answers

Sources

1. NHS — Hay fever
2. MedlinePlus — Hay fever
3. MedlinePlus — Allergic rhinitis
4. CDC — Pollen and your health
5. MedlinePlus — Anaphylaxis

Sources checked on 29 October 2026.