Signs and symptoms
... Hay fever signs and symptoms can range from mild to severe. If your condition is mild, you may have brief, infrequent episodes of a runny nose and itchy, watery eyes. At the other extreme, you may exp...

Causes
... Most likely, you aren''t allergic to hay. Despite its name, hay fever is almost never caused by hay and it doesn''t cause an elevation in body temperature. It got its name in the early 1800s when Brit...

Risk factors
... Any of the following risk factors may increase your risk of developing hay fever: Family history of allergies Male sex Firstborn status Exposure to cigarette smoke in the first year of life Exposure t...

When to seek medical advice
... If you experience occasional symptoms of hay fever and haven''t found relief from using over-the-counter medications, see your doctor to design a treatment program. Also see your doctor if your sympto...

Screening and diagnosis
... Your doctor will ask detailed questions about your personal and family medical history, your signs and symptoms, and your usual way of treating them. Next, your doctor will perform a physical examinat...