What is Hayfever?

Hay fever is an allergic response.

It is the immune system responding to a foreign substance entering the body and attempting to remove it.  In the case of hay fever, this foreign body is pollen, which are harmless to your health. 

Hay fever is your immune system over-reacting to a harmless allergen.

What happens if your body over reacts to the pollen?

Symptoms are similar to those of a common cold. However, if you’re asthmatic, you may find that your symptoms are a little more severe. 

Common symptoms of hay fever include:

Itchy, watery eyes

Sneezing and coughing

Some loss in smell 

Itchy throat nose, mouth or ears

Headaches

Lethargy 

Pain in the temples or forehead

 Shortness of breath (with asthma) 

Tightness of the chest (with asthma) 

Sinus pressure 

What is the hayfever injection?

The medication has anti-inflammatory properties which slightly suppress the immune system and stop the body’s natural pollen response.

Will it work immediately?

The treatment starts to work approximately 2 days after treatment and results last up to 3 months.

What dose do I need?

The clinical guidelines suggest 1mg per kg in weight therefore at The Nurse Clinic we offer 2 treatment approaches.

Find out more at https://www.thenurseclinic.co.uk/book-online

Why can I not access the hayfever injection on the NHS?

Hayfever injections were given routinely by the NHS to severe sufferers until about 5-10 years ago but have now fallen out of favour and the NHS no longer prescribes or administers Kenalog for hay fever as their guidelines have determined that the potential risks do not justify the benefits that people may gain from the treatment. 

Can hayfever injection be administered by non medically trained people?

A full consultation with a medical professional prior to administration of the hayfever injection must be completed. This is considered best practice.

The article by the MRHA and CAP https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-and-cap-take-action-against-illegal-hayfever-jab-adverts-online explains the crucial elements of hayfever injection advertising and administration. This blog has been created by The Nurse Clinic to bring awareness to the safety elements of these issues rather than to promote the product.

Is the injection licenced?

Not licensed for the treatment of hay fever in the UK. This means it is currently a prescription-only medicine. Patients need to have a consultation with a medical professional to discuss their severe symptoms and determine whether it is a suitable treatment option for them. We advised as a final option after trying other alternative hay fever treatments.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Hay fever injection?

https://patient.info/news-and-features/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-hay-fever-injection

What are the risks of the injection?

• Muscle weakness
• Increased blood pressure
• Skin rashes
• Swelling
• Insomnia
• Abdominal pain

Who CANNOT have the hay fever injection?

• Stomach ulcers
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• Epilepsy
• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Hypertension
• Glaucoma
• Cardiovascular disease
• Active infection

To book your hayfever injection at The Nurse Clinic Bedford https://www.thenurseclinic.co.uk/book-online

Some additional research regarding hayfever injections

• https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/is-there-a-place-in-therapy-for-kenalog-triamcinolone-acetonide-intramuscular-injection-for-seasonal-allergic-rhinitis-hay-fever/
• https://www.nature.com/articles/pcrj2004081