What is Hay Fever and Why is it Often Undertreated?

Hay fever is one of the most common allergic conditions worldwide, yet it remains one of the most undertreated. For millions of people, hay fever (also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis) isn’t just a minor inconvenience—it can have a major impact on quality of life, sleep, productivity, and even long-term health.

At AllergyRhino, we see first-hand how easily hay fever is underestimated, and how life-changing the right treatment—especially immunotherapy—can be.

What is Hay Fever?

Hay fever is an allergy to pollen, typically from grass or trees. In the UK, it affects around 1 in 5 adults.

Common symptoms include:

• Sneezing

• Runny or blocked nose

• Itchy nose and throat

• Watery or itchy eyes

• Fatigue and headaches

These may sound like “just a sniffle,” but for many, symptoms can be severe and disruptive. They can trigger poor sleep, difficulty concentrating, and flare-ups of conditions like asthma and sinusitis.

As Dr Adam Fox explains:

Dr. Adam Fox explains hay fever and its symptoms

“Hay fever affects around 20% of UK adults. The classic symptoms—itchy nose, runny nose, sneezing—can lead to much more significant problems like headaches, sore throat, poor sleep, and a real impact on daily wellbeing.”

Why is hay fever undertreated?

Despite being so common, hay fever is often poorly controlled. Here’s why:

1. It’s underestimated

Because hay fever isn’t life-threatening for most, people dismiss it as “just allergies.” But untreated hay fever can lower school exam performance, affect workplace productivity, and have a major impact on wellbeing.

2. Medications are misused

Antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays, and eye drops are effective—but only if used regularly and correctly. Many people take them reactively, when symptoms flare, instead of daily during pollen season. This leads to partial control at best.

3. Pollen is unavoidable

Unlike avoiding peanuts or cats, you can’t escape pollen. It drifts through open windows, clings to clothes, and floats in the air we breathe. Without consistent prevention and treatment, symptoms quickly build up.

4. Lack of awareness of better treatments

For people with moderate to severe hay fever, standard medications aren’t always enough. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)—a safe and effective treatment that retrains the immune system—is available, but many people still don’t know it exists .

The impact of untreated hay fever

Hay fever that isn’t properly managed can have knock-on effects:

• Poor sleep quality → daytime fatigue and irritability

  
  

• Difficulty concentrating → lower productivity and exam results

  
  

• Asthma flare-ups → increased risk of attacks during pollen season

  
  

• Recurring sinus infections

  
  

• Mood and mental health impact → frustration, anxiety, or low mood

Left untreated, hay fever is not just an annoyance—it’s a barrier to daily life.

How AllergyRhino helps

At AllergyRhino, we’re dedicated to helping people move beyond short-term fixes. Our approach is built on three key pillars:

1. Accurate diagnosis – Through testing, we identify exactly which pollens are causing symptoms.

2. Personalised treatment plans – Combining practical exposure-reduction strategies with the right mix of medication.

3. Access to immunotherapy – For those whose hay fever is severe or not controlled by standard treatments, we provide access to clinically proven sublingual immunotherapy.

We know that most people with hay fever never make it past the pharmacy counter. Our mission is to change that—by making advanced allergy treatments more accessible and ensuring patients get to the root of their symptoms, not just patch them over.

Immunotherapy: the long-term solution

Unlike antihistamines or nasal sprays, which only work while you take them, immunotherapy changes how your immune system responds to pollen.

• How it works: Daily drops containing small, controlled doses of the allergen are placed under the tongue. Over time, this retrains the immune system to become less reactive.

• Who it’s for: Children (from age 5) and adults with moderate to severe hay fever that isn’t well-controlled by regular medication.

• The benefits:

  • Fewer symptoms and reduced need for medication

  • Long-lasting improvement even after treatment stops

  • Lower risk of developing asthma in the future

At AllergyRhino, we offer immunotherapy as part of a supervised programme, giving patients both safety and support along the way.

When to seek help

You should consider seeing a specialist like AllergyRhino if:

• Your symptoms persist despite daily antihistamines and nasal sprays

• Hay fever is affecting your sleep, work, or school performance

• You have asthma that worsens during pollen season

• You want a long-term alternative to simply “managing symptoms”

The bottom line

Hay fever affects millions, yet it’s often undertreated. The result? Months of unnecessary suffering each year.

With the right management—including consistent use of medication, practical lifestyle changes, and, where needed, immunotherapy through AllergyRhino—you don’t have to accept hay fever as inevitable.

At AllergyRhino, we believe in treating allergies at their root, not just masking symptoms. That means helping you reclaim your spring and summer—not just survive them.