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Spring has arrived, and for many Australians that means sneezing, a runny or blocked nose and itchy, watery eyes. Hay fever is very common: it affects around 1 in 5 adults in Australia, according to healthdirect.
The good news is that most people can manage hay fever well with the right approach. Here’s what causes it, what can help, how to tell it apart from a cold, and when it’s worth talking to a doctor.
What is hay fever?
Hay fever is the common name for allergic rhinitis. It happens when your immune system reacts to something in the air that’s harmless for most people, such as pollen. Despite the name, it isn’t caused by hay and doesn’t give you a fever.
There are two main patterns:
- Seasonal hay fever: symptoms at the same time each year, usually in spring and early summer, when grass, tree and weed pollens are in the air.
- Year-round (perennial) hay fever: symptoms most of the year, usually from dust mites, mould or animal dander.
Pollen seasons vary around Australia, so it’s worth checking the pollen forecast for where you live. Some people who move to Australia find they develop hay fever for the first time after a few years here.
Common symptoms
- Sneezing, often in bursts
- Runny or blocked nose
- Itchy nose, throat or ears
- Itchy, red or watery eyes
- Needing to clear your throat, or a cold that “never goes away”
- Snoring, mouth breathing and poor sleep
- Tiredness, headaches and trouble concentrating
Hay fever is often dismissed as a minor nuisance, but poor sleep and constant symptoms can affect work, study and mood. If it’s getting in the way of your day, it’s worth treating properly.
Is it hay fever or a cold?
The two can feel similar, but there are some clues:
| Hay fever | Common cold | |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Same time each year, or after contact with a trigger | Any time, often in cooler months |
| How long | Can last weeks or all season | Usually settles in about a week to 10 days |
| Itchy eyes | Common | Uncommon |
| Fever or body aches | No | Sometimes |
| Mucus | Usually clear and watery | Can become thicker |
If you have a fever, sore throat or body aches, you’re more likely to have a viral infection such as a cold, flu or COVID-19. Our article on common respiratory viruses explains the differences, and our cold, flu and bronchitis page covers how our GPs can help.
What can help
Reduce your exposure to pollen
- Check the daily pollen forecast for your area, and stay indoors on high-pollen and windy days where you can
- Keep windows closed at home and in the car, and use recirculated air in the car
- Wear wraparound sunglasses outdoors
- Shower and change clothes after being outside
- Dry washing indoors during peak season
- Ask someone else to mow the lawn
Reduce year-round triggers
- Wash bedding in hot water each week if dust mites are a trigger
- Keep pets out of the bedroom if animal dander is a trigger
- Fix damp areas to reduce mould
Treatments from a pharmacy
Many people manage hay fever with over-the-counter antihistamines, medicated nasal sprays and saltwater (saline) rinses. Your pharmacist can help you choose. A few tips:
- Use nasal sprays regularly. Medicated nasal sprays work best when used every day through the season, not just on bad days.
- Get the technique right. Aim the nozzle slightly away from the middle of your nose, and don’t sniff hard after spraying.
- Start early. If your hay fever comes back each spring, starting treatment before the season can help.
- Ask before using decongestant sprays. These are only meant for a few days; longer use can make a blocked nose worse.
When to see a doctor
healthdirect suggests speaking to a doctor if your symptoms are persistent (at least 4 days a week, for 4 weeks or more) or moderate to severe (affecting your sleep, work, study or other daily activities). It’s also worth seeing a GP if:
- pharmacy treatments aren’t controlling your symptoms
- you have asthma, or you cough or wheeze with your hay fever
- you’re pregnant or breastfeeding and want to know which treatments are suitable
- you’d like to know what you’re allergic to
A GP can review your symptoms and treatment, prescribe if clinically appropriate, and arrange allergy testing or a referral to an allergy specialist. For severe hay fever that isn’t controlled with medicines, a specialist may discuss allergen immunotherapy (desensitisation), a longer-term treatment that can reduce how strongly you react to an allergen. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) has more on allergic rhinitis and its treatment.
Hay fever and thunderstorm asthma
During grass pollen season, thunderstorms can cause sudden, severe asthma attacks in many people at once. This is called thunderstorm asthma. It usually happens in spring and early summer, in the windy period before the rain. It can affect people who have never had asthma before. The risk is highest for adults who are sensitive to grass pollen and have seasonal hay fever.
To lower your risk:
- Keep your hay fever and any asthma well controlled
- If you have asthma, keep your reliever with you and follow your asthma action plan
- Stay indoors with windows closed before, during and after thunderstorms in grass pollen season
- Check thunderstorm asthma forecasts in your state
- See a doctor if you get asthma symptoms for the first time during a thunderstorm
When to get urgent help
Call 000 if you or someone else has:
- severe difficulty breathing or can’t speak in full sentences
- lips turning blue
- asthma symptoms that get worse quickly or don’t improve with a reliever
- swelling of the face, lips or tongue after contact with an allergen
How Teldoc can help
Our AHPRA-registered GPs can talk through your hay fever by phone or video, usually within 15 minutes, 7 days a week. They can:
- review what you’ve tried and suggest a plan for the season
- prescribe if clinically appropriate, with eScripts sent to your phone (online prescriptions)
- arrange allergy testing through our pathology referrals
- refer you to an allergy specialist (specialist referrals)
- provide a medical certificate if you’re too unwell to work or study
Consultations are $55 on weekdays and $75 on weekends and public holidays. See our fees page for details and bulk billing eligibility. Not sure if telehealth suits your situation? Read what telehealth can and can’t do.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get hay fever for the first time as an adult?
Yes. Hay fever can start at any age, and some people develop it after moving to a new area with different pollens. If you have new symptoms each spring, a GP can help confirm the cause.
Is it hay fever or COVID-19?
Hay fever usually causes itchy eyes and sneezing without a fever. COVID-19 is more likely to cause a fever, sore throat, cough or body aches. If you’re unsure, take a COVID-19 test and speak to a doctor.
Can hay fever make asthma worse?
Yes. Hay fever and asthma often occur together, and poorly controlled hay fever can make asthma harder to manage. Treating hay fever well is part of looking after your asthma.
Can a telehealth GP help with hay fever?
Yes. Most hay fever can be assessed by talking through your symptoms. A telehealth GP can recommend treatment, prescribe if clinically appropriate, arrange allergy tests and refer you to a specialist.
Sources and further reading: healthdirect: Hay fever; healthdirect: Thunderstorm asthma; ASCIA: Allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
This article is general health information and isn’t a substitute for advice from your own doctor. If you’re worried about your health, speak to a GP. In an emergency, call 000.
Medically reviewed by Dr Vafa Derakshan (MBBS, FRACGP), October 2026
