Hay fever
What is hay fever?
The nose and sinuses have critical roles as the guardians of our airways, protecting the lungs from breathing in harmful substances. The nasal-sinus apparatus performs this function by filtering and warming the air we breathe and alerting the body when something may be harmful. As a result, the nose is a very organised and sophisticated structure. The immune system in the nose is highly developed, allowing the nasal passages to react rapidly to particulate matter breathed in.
If the nose is over-reactive to such inhaled material such as tree or grass pollen, then allergic disease such as hay fever (termed seasonal allergic rhinitis) can result. The main symptoms people feel are nasal congestion and watery discharge along with irritability of the nose (sneezing and itch).
Accurate diagnosis and treatment is absolutely essential, as allergic rhinitis can lead to other complications such as glue ear, sinusitis, exacerbation of asthma, cough and affect daily function such the ability to concentrate at work or even exam performance.
We recognise how important it is for you to choose the right specialist for your medical care.
If you have any questions about whether we are suitable for your care, please contact us.
How can LNSC help?
Hay fever can range from mild to extremely severe. Sufferers need an expert assessment, and personalised care tailored to their symptoms.
At London Nose & Sinus Clinic, our experts can provide detailed assessment of the nose with endoscopy, allergy testing, and an individual treatment plan for your allergic rhinitis. For many patients, hay fever can be managed with medications such as antihistamines and nasal sprays, preferably taken throughout the period of the allergen that affects them. Patients should be monitored carefully and have ready access to help if their symptoms worsen.
LNSC also has a dedicated service for immunotherapy, also known as allergen desensitisation. This highly effective and safe treatment aims to modify the immune system's response to pollen, and is suitable for patients with more severe hay fever and allergic rhinitis.