Each year the arrival of spring brings hay fever season, which usually lasts until the fall. Hay fever is an allergic reaction to plant pollen which is produced in large quantities by weeds, grasses, and trees and carried by the wind for miles. Tree pollen levels are usually highest in the spring, grass levels are highest in early summer, and ragweed, a primary hay fever irritant, is highest in late summer.
Pollen triggers an allergic reaction in people suffering from hay fever.
Symptoms include violent sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, a runny or clogged nose, and an itchy throat or mouth. These are often confused with cold symptoms. In extreme cases, symptoms can result in fatigue, loss of appetite, and irritability. As a consequence, many sufferers are forced to miss work and school. Treatment of hay fever includes prevention, medication, and immuno-therapy, or allergy shots, for severe cases.