Hayfever is a very common condition. It is caused by an allergy to pollen or sometimes mould spores.

In hayfever the body's immune system over reacts to the presence of external substances, as if they were something toxic. This results in irritation and inflammation.

Hayfever often runs in families, and is also related to asthma and eczema. It is quite common to find a family with some members with asthma, some with hayfever, and some with eczema.

Any individual might have more than one of these conditions.

The symptoms vary from person to person and often involve sneezing, runny/blocked nose, red, watery, and itchy eyes, and an associated itchy throat.

Very often there is also a wheezy chest, which really suggests a degree of asthma.