Learn about hay fever symptoms

In allergic rhino-conjunctivitis, the nose and eyes bear the brunt of the inflammatory reaction.

Depending on the severity of your hayfever, symptoms and signs may include one or more of the following:

Blocked or runny nose, sometimes associated with a ‘nasal quality speech’ and reduced taste sensation.
Repetitive violent sneezing (if this is worse in the morning and occurs all year around, then consider house dust mite allergy as a cause)
Intense itching and rubbing of the nose and eyes. Rubbing of the nose may result in a clear line across the nose (called a nasal crease), and rubbing of the eyes may result in deep skin folds under the eye (called Morgan Denny’s folds); the dark areas under the eyes are sometimes called ‘allergic shiners’ making children appear fatigued.
Eczema flares around the eyes, under the nose, and behind the ears
Mouth breathing will result in dry teeth, which can result in halitosis and a propensity to develop poor dentition. Dry and cracked lips, if licked repetitively, result in a ‘lip licking’ eczema.
Sleep patterns may also be disturbed; children with hay fever are frequently described as ‘restless sleepers’ as evidenced by chaotic bed linens in the morning.
Mood may also be adversely affected as a consequence of poor sleep and medication use.
Hayfever can impact schooling, particularly as exams are usually taken in the summer months.
A post nasal drip may result in a ‘dry hacking cough’ and ‘anti-social throat clearing noises’.
Children with hay fever also blink repetitively and distort their itchy mid-facies, sometimes resembling the ‘facial mannerisms of a rabbit’ or a ‘nervous tick’.