diagnosing hay fever

Key symptoms of hay fever include sneezing, an itchy nose and palate, rhinorhoea (runny nose with clear or yellow mucous), nasal congestion and eye irritation, itching and watering that coincide with seasonal allergens. Some sufferers may also experience facial pain, headache, loss of concentration and symptoms of asthma, including difficulty breathing, wheezing and tightness in the chest.

Symptoms that are seasonal and fall into the expected time pattern of common seasonal allergens may reasonably be attributed to the relevant allergen. For a list of common seasonal allergens see our allergy calendar.

Specific allergen tests are often used to help identify which allergens are responsible for causing hay fever.

Skin Prick Tests

Skin prick tests are used to detect common allergens that cause allergic rhinitis.

These are most commonly performed on the forearm, although they can sometimes be done on the back. The arm is first cleaned with alcohol, then a drop of allergen extract is placed onto a marked area of the skin. Using a sterile needle, a small prick through the drop is made. This allows a small amount of the allergen to enter the skin. If you are allergic to the allergen being tested, a small mosquito bite-like bump will appear at the site of testing. Skin tests are slightly uncomfortable, but are usually well tolerated and accurate.

Specific IgE Tests

A blood test to detect antibodies, known as immunoglobulin (IgE), to specific allergens may be requested when skin tests are not possible or when skin prick tests, together with the patient history, are not conclusive.