Hay fever in Cape Town (also known as allergic rhinitis) is a common condition that is caused by an allergic response to airborne substances such as pollen. Hay fever presents signs and symptoms that are similar to a cold. These signs and symptoms include sneezing, congestion, a runny nose and sinus pressure. Unlike a cold, which is caused by a virus, hay fever in Cape Town depends on the time of year and the airborne substances to which you are allergic.

The substances that cause an allergic reaction in hay fever are known as an allergen. For most people who do not suffer from hay fever in Cape Town, these substances, such as pollen, dust mites, or pet dander, are not allergens because it doesn’t affect them, and their immune system does not react to them. Despite its name, hay fever does not mean that someone is allergic to hay or has a fever, as hay is hardly ever an allergen, and hay fever does not cause fever. Common allergens that are responsible for hay fever in Cape Town include pollen, airborne allergens from plants and fungi, dust mites and pet dander. Hay fever in Cape Town affects the nose, eyes and sinuses.

Some people are only mildly affected by hay fever and rarely seek medical advice. However, for many people, the symptoms of hay fever may be so severe and persistent that they hinder their ability to properly carry out their daily tasks at home, work or school. These people are the ones who seek treatment. Treatment options for hay fever in Cape Town may not get rid of the symptoms altogether, but they usually help to lessen their impact, making them easier to live with. As with other allergies, hay fever symptoms are a result of your immune system mistaking a harmless substance as a harmful one and releasing chemicals that cause the symptoms.