Claire's hay fever has a big impact on her own life and ours. We've all had to learn how to adapt. For example, Claire's eyes run and her nose itches as soon as she steps outside, and she's learned that she's better off reading indoors while the rest of us are out in the garden. It's amazing how much of an effect something like hay fever can have, not only on the person who has the condition but also on the rest of the family. Everyone's symptoms and triggers are different, so at first it can be a case of trial and error, but eventually you find the best ways of dealing with it.
Hay fever is a seasonal condition.
It is sometimes called 'seasonal allergic rhinitis'. People with hay fever are allergic to pollen and spores. Pollen is the tiny, dust-like particles given off by certain types of trees, grasses, weeds and flowers. Spores are given off by fungi and moulds. In some people, hay fever-like symptoms occur all year round.