Hay fever history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

The history of the person’s symptoms is important in diagnosing allergic rhinitis, including whether the symptoms vary according to time of day or the season, exposure to pets or other allergens, and diet changes.

The effect of hay fever can vary greatly: some people may only be mildly afflicted, whereas others may suffer greatly. Common symptoms include:

• Coughing
• Headache
• Itching nose, mouth, eyes, throat, skin, or any area exposed to the allergen.
• Runny nose (and occasionally nosebleeds)
• Impaired smell (and thus sensitivity to flavors)
• Sneezing
• Stuffy nose (nasal congestion)
• Watering eyes and/or plugged up ear canals.
• Sore throat
• Wheezing
• Cross-reactivity allergy to some fruits
• Conjunctivitis
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Flushing

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