Chapter 1: Clinical Overview
The severity of symptoms varies between patients and because it depends on several factors will vary at different times for each patient. The symptoms may include:
An itchy, runny or blocked nose.
This can cause the patient to breathe mainly through their mouth which may cause a dry, irritated mouth and throat. It can cause them to snore when asleep.
The runny nose may cause an itchiness or irritation in the throat, so patient’s feel the need to clear their throat often.Frequent sneezing.
Itchy, watery eyes.
Headaches and facial/sinus pain.
Sore throat.
Feeling tired because of interrupted sleep, which may make it difficult to concentrate.
Sinus and ear infections.
Note: Hay fever symptoms may feel like a cold to the patient, and it is important to ask appropriate questions to determine which it is.
Hay fever or cold?
These two conditions have different causes but share many of the same symptoms, such as runny nose and sneezing.
The differences:
A cold more often includes a sore throat, coughing and fever, and usually lasts for one to two weeks.
Hay fever usually involves itchy and watery eyes, bouts of sneezing and can last for many weeks or months.
It is important to ask the right questions to find out the symptoms which will point to the possible cause.