I don't know about you but I've been sneezing my head off over the last couple of days.  You know - itchy throat, itchy eyes and a nose that looks like Rudolph the Reindeer !

It's the season - the sneezing season and for some it can be a nightmare.

Hayfever or "Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis" can affect as many as ;

	One in five children
	one in five young adults
	Approximately One in Twenty adults

Hayfever does not just appear during Springtime but can affect sufferers at any time of the year, depending on what particular factors trigger it off.

Many a night can be disturbed by being woken to sneeze and itch and dark rings under the eyes is mainly due to congestion of the tiny veins that are housed there and can also be attributed to broken sleep during several nights of attack !!

The good news is, treatment for hayfever is readily available in the form of tablets or syrup. 

Research is continually carried out and modern versions of antihistamines have been developed, which do not make the "taker" drowsy - an absolute bonus when you intend to drive or operate machinery !

"Rhinitis" means inflammation of the nose and can be caused by irritants such as perfumes, smoke, dust - even animals.

The causes of this condition are many and sufferers who have the misfortune to really come under "attack", experience a variety of symptoms. 

	Blocked, congested itchy nose
	Sneezing
	Increased runniness of the nose, often back down into the throat (POST NASAL DRIP)

Eyes can be affected at the same time.

	Watery
	Red
	Scratchy

The eyes can become so itchy, you feel half tempted to rub them till eternity !  This added "nasty" is referred to as "Allergic Conjunctivitis"

Other less common symptoms include:

	Irritating cough (often a result of the post nasal drip)
	Blocked or/and painful itchy ears which can in some sufferers, produce loss of balance or hearing difficulty

Did you know that because asthma and hayfever are both allergic conditions, many of us suffer from both. 

Another treatment which some may find useful as a preventative is the nasal spray which can be similar or in some cases, identical to preventative inhalers used by asthmatics.

De-sensitisation is available to those whose symptoms are really bad.

Skin or blood tests are used and can identify a particular substance which is responsible for the sufferer's allergic reaction.