It’s a windy October morning, and within minutes your eyes are itchy and your nose won’t stop running. If that sounds familiar, you’re far from alone. Hay fever in Melbourne often flares in spring, when grass pollen fills the air. For some people it’s a passing nuisance, but for others it disrupts sleep, work, and study.
This guide covers the symptoms, your treatment options, and when to see your GP.
Why Does Hay Fever in Melbourne Flare Up in Spring?
Hay fever is the common name for allergic rhinitis, an allergy that affects the nose and eyes. It happens when your immune system treats a harmless substance, such as pollen, as if it were a threat. Your nose then becomes inflamed and makes extra mucus. ASCIA, the allergy and immunology society, says around 18% of people in Australia and New Zealand have it.
Most people link hay fever with spring because airborne grass pollen is at its peak. In Victoria, the grass pollen season typically runs from 1 October to 31 December. Hay fever can also happen outside spring because dust mites, moulds, and animal dander can trigger it, too.
Common Hay Fever Symptoms and How They Differ From a Cold
Hay fever symptoms usually start soon after you breathe in an allergen. The most common ones include:
- A runny or blocked nose
- An itchy nose
- Sneezing
- Itchy, watery eyes
For some people, these symptoms disturb sleep and concentration, and they may leave you feeling tired or unwell.
The symptoms look a lot like a cold, so the two are easy to mix up. One clue is that hay fever doesn’t cause a fever, despite its name. Another is timing, as allergy symptoms often continue unless treated correctly.
Hay Fever Treatment and Medication Options
Hay fever treatment depends on your triggers and how strong your symptoms are. Your GP or pharmacist may suggest one or more of these types of hay fever medication:
- Antihistamines: tablets, syrups, nasal sprays, or eye drops that may help with sneezing and itchy eyes
- Corticosteroid nasal sprays: often used for moderate to severe symptoms, and they need regular use as directed
- Combined nasal sprays: these contain both a corticosteroid and an antihistamine
- Decongestant nasal sprays: these are for short-term use only, a few days at most, and they don’t suit everyone
- Allergen immunotherapy: small, gradually increasing exposure to an allergen to build tolerance, overseen by an allergy specialist
Medicines suit people differently, so check with your GP or pharmacist first. That matters most if you’re pregnant, have high blood pressure, or are choosing for a child.
Simple Ways to Reduce Pollen Exposure
Medicine is only part of the picture, as limiting your contact with pollen can help too. The Better Health Channel suggests you:
- Stay indoors when you can on windy days and after thunderstorms
- Avoid mowing grass
- Shower after spending time outdoors
- Use recirculated air in the car when pollen levels are high
- Wear sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes
- Dry bedding and clothing indoors or in a dryer
You can also check the Melbourne Pollen count and forecast to plan your week.
Hay Fever Season in Melbourne and Thunderstorm Asthma
Grass pollen season also brings a small chance of thunderstorm asthma. It’s uncommon, but it can happen when a high grass pollen day meets a particular kind of thunderstorm. People with asthma can be affected, and so can people with hay fever, especially those who wheeze or cough. Good control of your hay fever may help lower that risk, which is another reason to talk with your GP.
Daily thunderstorm asthma forecasts run from 1 October to 31 December.
When to See Your GP About Hay Fever
Many people manage hay fever by avoiding triggers and asking a pharmacist for advice. Healthdirect suggests seeing your doctor when symptoms are ongoing and affect your daily life. It’s worth booking a visit if:
- Your symptoms are persistent, meaning at least four days a week for four weeks or more
- Sleep, work, study, or daily activities are affected
- Over-the-counter options aren’t helping enough
- You’re not sure whether it’s hay fever, a cold, or something else
- You get repeated sinus infections, or your child has repeated ear infections, which ASCIA links with hay fever
- You’re pregnant, have high blood pressure, or are thinking about medicine for a child
- You notice wheezing, a cough, or shortness of breath
Wheezing, a cough, or shortness of breath are worth getting checked, even if you’ve never had asthma. At High Street Medical Clinic, our independent doctors can talk through your symptoms and your options. If someone is struggling to breathe, or asthma suddenly gets worse or isn’t improving, call 000 straight away. After hours, Doctor Doctor, a separate provider, offers non-emergency care at home on 13 26 60.
Reminder: This article is general information, and it can’t replace advice from your doctor.
Don’t Manage Spring Hay Fever Alone
Hay fever in Melbourne is common, and understanding what’s behind it is a good first step. It tends to follow the grass pollen season, which is why treatment options should be discussed with your doctor.
If symptoms linger, a general medicine appointment at High Street Medical Clinic can help you take that step. The independent doctors at our Prahran clinic can talk through your symptoms and options.
When you’re ready, you can book online or call (03) 9510 5500.
Frequently Asked Questions
The symptoms overlap, so the two are easy to mix up. Hay fever doesn’t cause a fever, and ASCIA notes that allergy symptoms often continue unless they’re treated correctly.
If you’re unsure, a GP can review your symptoms and history to help work out the cause.
Many people start by asking a pharmacist about hay fever medication. However, the Better Health Channel suggests checking with your GP or pharmacist before choosing one.
A doctor’s input matters most if you’re pregnant, have high blood pressure, or are treating a child. Your GP can also review what you’ve tried if symptoms don’t settle.
Yes, the two can be connected. ASCIA notes that hay fever is linked with a higher risk of developing asthma. It’s also linked with more asthma symptoms in people who already have it.
If you notice wheezing, a cough, or shortness of breath, see your GP. In an emergency, call 000.
Not always. Healthdirect explains that allergy testing can help identify triggers, but results are read alongside your history and symptoms.
Options include skin prick tests and blood tests, and some people need a referral to an allergy specialist. Your GP can talk through whether testing is likely to help in your situation.
Most people notice hay fever in spring, when grass pollen peaks. In Victoria, the grass pollen season typically runs from 1 October to 31 December. Hay fever can happen at other times too, because dust mites, moulds, and animal dander can also trigger it.
Checking the Melbourne Pollen forecast may help you plan around high pollen days.
