Conditions and symptoms
What Is Hay Fever? Why Allergy Medicine Labels Mention It
Hay fever · say it: HAY FEE-verAlso written: seasonal allergic rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, pollen allergy
Short answer
Hay fever is an allergy to pollen or similar triggers, causing sneezing, a runny or blocked nose and itchy, watery eyes. It does not cause a fever.
What it means
Hay fever is the everyday name for allergic rhinitis, especially the seasonal kind triggered by pollen from grass, trees or weeds. The immune system overreacts to the pollen and releases histamine and other chemicals, causing sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, and itchy, watery eyes, nose or throat.
It appears on over-the-counter allergy medicine labels, usually in the 'Uses' section: 'temporarily relieves these symptoms due to hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies'. Antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays and decongestants all list it. The label warnings you will see alongside, such as drowsiness or not using a decongestant spray for more than a few days, depend on the medicine, not on hay fever itself.
Despite the name, hay fever does not cause a fever, and it is not caused only by hay. A cold is caused by a virus, often brings a sore throat and aches, and passes in a week or two; hay fever lasts as long as the trigger is around.
Where you may see it
- The 'Uses' section of over-the-counter antihistamine and nasal spray labels
- Pharmacy leaflets for allergy medicines
- GP or allergy clinic notes
📄 How it looks on a report
Uses: temporarily relieves these symptoms due to hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies: runny nose, sneezing, itchy watery eyes.
🙅 What it does not mean
- Hay fever does not cause a real fever; a high temperature suggests something else.
- It is not the same as a cold.
- A label saying 'non-drowsy' does not mean no one ever feels sleepy on it.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Hay fever”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Ampicillin Sodium
a penicillin-type antibacterial medicine
- Cetirizine
an antihistamine of the selective H1-receptor antagonist type
- Dexamethasone
A corticosteroid, a synthetic adrenocortical steroid medicine that lowers inflammation and suppresses the immune system
- Fexofenadine
an antihistamine, an allergy medicine sold over the counter
- Loratadine
a non-drowsy antihistamine, a type of medicine that works against allergy symptoms
- Montelukast
A leukotriene receptor antagonist, a medicine that blocks substances in the body called leukotrienes.
- Prednisolone
a corticosteroid, a type of steroid medicine. The label describes glucocorticoids as adrenocortical steroids, both naturally occurring and synthetic, that are readily absorbed from the stomach and intestines.
- Prednisone
a corticosteroid, a type of steroid medicine that works like the adrenocortical (adrenal gland) steroids the body makes naturally
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Hay fever” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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