Hayfever is an allergic response to plant and tree pollen. The condition is seasonal and has links to the time of the year when trees and plants release their pollen, most notably in the summer.
If you have hayfever your symptoms may include:
- Sneezing and an itchy, runny or blocked nose (allergic rhinitis)
- Itchy, red, watering eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and a cough
- A raised, itchy, red rash (hives)
Your body’s immune reaction is a defence against a potentially dangerous substance. However, when the substance is not dangerous, such as pollen, we call this response an allergy.
So, an allergy is not an auto-immune disease. It is an immune response.
