Sneezing that won’t stop, a runny or blocked nose and itchy eyes and throat between spring and autumn may be hay fever. The UK National Health Service (NHS) describes hay fever as an allergic reaction to pollen, the fine powder that plants produce. Symptoms are usually worse between late March and September, especially when it’s warm, humid and windy — when the pollen count is highest. Unlike a cold, which usually goes after 1 to 2 weeks, hay fever can last weeks or months. There is currently no cure and you cannot prevent it, but you can ease symptoms when the pollen count is high. Here is the NHS page on symptoms, 6 dos and 6 don’ts, and pharmacist and GP treatment.
1. Worse from late March to September, on warm, humid, windy days — when pollen is highest.
2. A cold usually lasts 1 to 2 weeks; hay fever weeks or months — duration is the easiest difference.
3. Start with a pharmacist — antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays and steroid nasal sprays. See a GP if pharmacy medicines don’t help.
Symptoms — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Nose | Sneezing and coughing, a runny or blocked nose | — |
| Eyes | Itchy, red or watery eyes | Red, sticky eyes alone: see conjunctivitis |
| Itching | Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears | — |
| Smell | Loss of smell | — |
| Head | Pain around the sides of your head and your forehead, headache | Facial pain with a blocked nose: see sinusitis too (ours) |
| General | Feeling tired | — |
Symptoms are usually worse between late March and September, especially when it’s warm, humid and windy, because that is when the pollen count is highest. These are UK seasons; in Korea, check the Korea Meteorological Administration pollen risk index (ours).
How it differs from a cold — NHS
The NHS says hay fever can last weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes after 1 to 2 weeks. A runny nose and sneezing alone won’t tell them apart; how long it lasts and whether it is worse on high-pollen days are the easiest clues (ours). Colds are covered in common cold.
Six things to do — NHS
The NHS says “there’s currently no cure for hay fever and you cannot prevent it”, and lists ways to ease symptoms when the pollen count is high.
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Nostrils | Put petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) around your nostrils to trap pollen | — |
| Face | Wraparound sunglasses, a mask or a wide-brimmed hat to keep pollen out of nose and eyes | — |
| After going out | Shower and change your clothes to wash pollen off | — |
| Windows | Keep windows and doors shut as much as possible | — |
| Cleaning | Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth | — |
| Filters | A pollen filter in the car air vents and a HEPA filter in your vacuum cleaner | — |
Six things not to do — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Grass | Don’t cut grass or walk on grass | — |
| Outdoors | Don’t spend too much time outside | — |
| Flowers | Don’t keep fresh flowers in the house | — |
| Smoke | Don’t smoke or be around smoke — it makes symptoms worse | — |
| Laundry | Don’t dry clothes outside — they can catch pollen | — |
| Pets | Don’t let pets into the house if possible — they carry pollen in | — |
In short, the 6 dos keep pollen out and wash it off, and the 6 don’ts keep you away from it (our summary). For bad-air days, see fine dust grades — fine dust and pollen are different things (ours).
Pharmacist and GP — NHS
| If | Where | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| You have hay fever | Pharmacist — antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays, steroid nasal sprays | In Korea, a pharmacy or ENT clinic |
| Antihistamines make you sleepy | Ask about non-drowsy antihistamines | Some can make you very sleepy |
| Symptoms are getting worse | GP (non-urgent) | — |
| No better after pharmacy medicines | GP (non-urgent) | — |
GP treatment — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Steroids | The GP might prescribe a steroid treatment | — |
| Immunotherapy | If steroids and other treatments don’t work, a referral for immunotherapy — small amounts of pollen as an injection or tablet to slowly build immunity | — |
| Timing | Usually starts a few months before the hay fever season | A few months before late March in the UK (ours) |
Cause — NHS
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen, the fine powder plants produce, usually when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes and throat, says the NHS.
Checklist
- ☐ Symptoms going on for weeks, beyond 1 to 2 weeks?
- ☐ Worse on warm, windy days?
- ☐ Shower and change after going out; keep windows shut
- ☐ Ask a pharmacist about antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays
- ☐ No better with pharmacy medicines: GP (in Korea, ENT or internal medicine)
Questions that remain
What if symptoms carry on after September?
The NHS only says symptoms are “usually” worse from late March to September, for the UK. Symptoms continuing into autumn in Korea are worth checking with a clinician (ours).
Can it be cured?
The page says there is currently no cure and it cannot be prevented. There are medicines to ease symptoms, and immunotherapy when they don’t work.
Sources
- NHS — Hay fever — source (page shows: reviewed 21 March 2024, next review due 21 March 2027; the video on the page reviewed 26 June 2025; checked 29 October 2026). Eight symptoms; late March to September, warm, humid and windy; the 1 to 2 week cold comparison; 6 dos and 6 don’ts; pharmacist (antihistamines, steroid sprays, non-drowsy options); two GP criteria; steroids and immunotherapy; cause.
- Not read. The pharmacist video; Allergy UK; the Met Office pollen forecast; the Korean pollen risk index.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column and the Korean care gloss.
Where to check further
- A pharmacy — ask whether an antihistamine is non-drowsy.
- The KMA pollen risk index — high-pollen days in Korea.
Written on 29 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours.
