Millions face hay fever hell this weekend as pollen bomb hits UK

Millions of Britons face hell this weekend as pollen levels soar, and GP surgeries have seen a surge in patients seeking help for symptoms. The Met Office was forecasting very high pollen in all regions of and on Saturday, and high levels across and most of .

Meanwhile, doctors have reported a surge in patients struggling with debilitating symptoms such as eye irritation, persistent sneezing and nasal congestion. The Royal College of GPs' (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre, run in partnership with Oxford University and the UK Health Security Agency, tracks presentations to GP surgeries for a range of conditions. It found the rate of patients booking appointments due to hay fever was above the seasonal average, particularly in

Some 17 in every 100,000 people in England sought help in the week to April 6, rising to 34 per 100,000 people in the capital.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the RCGP, said: "The latest data shows a spike in cases of hay fever across England and Wales that is higher than average at this time of year.

"The recent warm , which has coincided with tree pollen season, may be a factor in causing this earlier spike in cases. Increases are usually expected in March and April, before peaking around late May."

Around 13 million people in the UK suffer from hay fever. Symptoms are currently being caused by tree pollen, rather than grass pollen which will be released later in the year.

Experts have predicted a more severe than average tree pollen season due to warmer weather last June, when pollen was forming in buds. More extreme temperatures in the late spring and summer are being driven by climate change.

On Friday, the Met Office forecast showed pollen levels were due to peak on Saturday. They were then expected to fall on Sunday before climbing slightly in some regions - particularly the East of England - early next week.

Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: "The pollen forecast for most of the UK tomorrow is high or very high.

"Only parts of northern Scotland are forecast to have medium pollen levels. But over the weekend the severity for all areas decreases as a cold front introduces cooler and more unsettled conditions."

Amena Warner, head of clinical services at Allergy UK, warned that poorly managed hay fever can lead to complications such as sinus infections or even the development of asthma.

She added: "It is important to not dismiss it and make sure you get a diagnosis if symptoms are especially difficult to manage.

"Hay fever can have a huge impact on quality of life, affecting sleep, mental wellbeing and at this time of year for students taking exams, it can even have an impact on how well you perform in exams."

Ms Warner advised hay fever sufferers to take a non-sedating daily antihistamine to help manage symptoms.

She added: "There are also a number of measures which can also be implemented to help reduce exposure to pollen in the first place.

"These include, wear a mask, wraparound sunglasses and a hat with a peak or large brim; washing your hair and changing your clothes when you arrive home to prevent continued exposure to the pollens indoors; keeping windows closed, especially in the early morning and in the evening when air cools; avoiding trying clothes outside and wiping pets down with a damp cloth to remove pollens."

For more information on hay fever and other , visit www.allergyuk.org.

While hay fever will be uncomfortable - with symptoms such as a runny, itching or blocked nose, sneezing, sore and watering eyes - there are some simple and practicable steps that patients can take to ease their symptoms.

Applying petroleum jelly around the nostrils can help trap pollen particles, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat and/or sunglasses can help reduce exposure to them.

Showering after you've been outside to wash the pollen off, and changing clothes, can also help reduce symptoms. And when at home, keeping windows and doors shut can help to stop pollen getting in.

In the vast majority of cases, the symptoms of hay fever will be temporary, and pharmacists will be able to advise patients on what over-the-counter products - such as antihistamine tablets, eye drops or nasal sprays - could alleviate their hay fever symptoms. In most cases, a visit to the GP shouldn't be necessary.

In most cases, although unpleasant, symptoms are self-limiting and should improve within a few days with self-care.

However, if symptoms are severe or do not improve after taking medications from the pharmacy, it's worth seeking further health advice.

- Professor Kamila Hawthorne is chair of the Royal College of GPs