The Met Office is warning of high pollen levels for much of England and Wales this week. The forecast comes amid reports of a shortage of hay fever medication.
According to the Met Office, the high pollen count currently includes oak, birch and a little grass pollen across the two nations on Monday (May 9). There is some respite from the high levels on Tuesday and Wednesday, before high levels return to many parts of England on Thursday and all of England and Wales on Friday.
The Telegraph reports there is a shortage of a common allergy drug which is causing hay fever medication supplies to run low. Boots has said chlorphenamine maleate stocks, which is the active ingredient in Piriton and other remedies, are running low.
The Boots website on Monday morning listed Piriton antihistamine allergy relief tablets as being out of stock. Syrup for children was, however, listed as being available this morning.
A spokesman for Boots was quoted in the Telegraph as saying: “There are a very small number of lines that are currently out of stock due to a current, industry-wide shortage of the active ingredient chlorphenamine maleate.
“However, we are expecting this to be resolved soon and new deliveries are expected in the coming weeks.”
Met Office meteorologist Sarah Kent said pollen levels will be high across much of the UK on Monday and Tuesday and said it's mainly tree pollen but grass season is just starting. She added: “You may start noticing symptoms more if you're sensitive to grass pollen.”
Allergy UK hay fever tips
- Check pollen counts and avoid going outdoors when these are high.
- Shower when you get indoors and change clothes to remove the allergens.
- Avoid drying clothes on an outdoor washing line when pollen counts are high.
- Apply a nasal barrier to prevent pollen entering the nose.
- Keep windows closed when indoors – particularly early mornings and evenings when high amounts of pollen is in the air.
- Wipe pets’ coats with a damp microfibre cloth to remove pollens that collect on their fur when they have been out.
What is hay fever?
The NHS says hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen, typically when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes and throat. Pollen is a fine powder from plants.
Symptoms of hay fever include sneezing and coughing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy, red or watery eyes, itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears, loss of smell, pain around your temples and forehead, headache, earache and feeling tired.
If you have asthma, you might also have a tight feeling in your chest, be short of breath or wheeze and cough. Hay fever will last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after 1 to two weeks.
