Where does the term hayfever come from?

The term hayfever was coined in 1828 by a British doctor, John Bostock, who noticed that his symptoms worsened during the haymaking season. The expression is a bit misleading, because allergies seldom cause a fever and are rarely related to hay. Nowadays, you can take Clarityn Allergy (loratadine) at this time of year to get out and about whether or not you are making hay!

What are allergies?

An "allergy" is a sensitivity to something that is normally harmless. Allergies can be caused by many things and are triggered by allergens that are found indoors as well as outdoors. Typical allergens include pet dander, pollen, dust mites and mould.

When your body tries to get rid of the allergen you can suffer from a number of different symptoms. These include sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny, stuffy, or itchy nose. The good news is that you can take Clarityn Allergy (loratadine) and be free of the symptoms.

What is hayfever?

Hayfever is one of the most common allergic conditions. It affects many people in spring and early summer. Its medical name is seasonal allergic rhinitis since the condition involves nose and eye symptoms. It is caused by the body reacting to different pollen types during specific seasons.

Using Clarityn Allergy (loratadine) is a good way to address hayfever so that people can get on with their lives.

Who gets allergies?

More than 15 million people in the UK have some form of allergy. Hayfever or allergic rhinitis, the most common type of allergy, affects approximately 12 million of us each year. That is a lot of people and for many, suffering from hayfever can stop them from getting out and about to live their lives to the full. Sensitivity to hayfever and allergies often starts in childhood or young adulthood when people are looking to take exams that have a big effect on their future.

Although experts do not fully understand why some people develop allergies and others don't, allergies do tend to run in families. If both parents have allergies, a child's chances of developing allergies are higher.

Early exposure to irritants like cigarette smoke is also believed to increase a child's chances of developing allergies.

If you are unlucky enough to suffer from an allergy whether hayfever or another allergy, Clarityn Allergy (loratadine) can help you to get back on track.

Are you more likely to suffer from allergies at different ages?

Yes. Allergy susceptibility peaks for teenagers and young adults, especially for hayfever sufferers. After the age of 30, less people suffer as a percentage of the population. For those taking exams, suffering from allergies can be very disruptive and is known to have a negative effect on exam performance. Unfortunately, many people take exams just as the hayfever season peaks in early summer. It can help to anticipate this by taking Clarityn Allergy (loratadine) before you are likely to suffer. This means that there is one thing less to worry about when revising for exams. Of course, different people can suffer in different ways and some people have been known to have more allergic reactions as they get older.