Treatment options for hay fever
Treatment options for hay fever symptoms
The NICE allergic rhinitis clinical knowledge summary suggests the following management strategies:18
- Avoid allergens where possible (see self-management strategies)
- Consider nasal irrigation
- OTC oral antihistamines may be used for mild to moderate symptoms
- Use an intranasal steroid (INS), particularly where symptoms are moderate
to severe or other treatments haven't been effective
For customers with hay fever, there are self-management strategies to minimise exposure to pollen as well as drug treatment options to manage hay fever symptoms.
Self-management strategies
Advice you can give to customers for self-management include:2,18
- Try to stay indoors
- Keep windows closed in homes and cars as much as possible
- Avoid walking in grassy, open spaces when the pollen count is high
- Wear wraparound sunglasses to help prevent pollen getting into the eyes
- Have a shower and change clothes after being outside to wash pollen off
- Avoid drying clothes outdoors when the pollen count is high.
