Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Yes. A doctor on Maple will be able to recommend hay fever treatment options following an allergic rhinitis diagnosis.

The doctor will want to discuss your medical history, perform a physical exam, and possibly request additional tests to confirm the condition before offering a hay fever diagnosis.

Yes. Our physicians can prescribe hay fever medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or have it delivered to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it works page to learn more.

Hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis, is an allergy-related condition that causes symptoms similar to that of a cold.

Unlike a cold, hay fever symptoms aren’t caused by a virus, but rather from reactions to indoor or outdoor allergens.

Typically hay fever affects the eyes and sinuses the most.

The most common allergic rhinitis symptoms include:

• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Itchy nose, roof of mouth, or throat
• Fatigue related to hay fever
• Postnasal drip, resulting in a sore throat or cough from hay fever
• Blue-colored, possibly swollen skin under the eyes
• Watery, red, or itchy eyes

While it’s less commonly found, hay fever can cause a rash in some cases. People experiencing severe congestion may also experience sinus headaches due to hay fever.

The most common hay fever causes are allergic responses to allergens found indoors and outdoors.

Some of the most frequently found allergenic triggers are:

• Dust mites
• Pollens
• Skin or saliva shed by animals with feathers or fur (pet dander)

While it could occur at any time of year, there are two hay fever seasons from March to June and May to October. During these times, certain allergens are more likely to cause hay fever symptoms.

A doctor on Maple will likely suggest a physical examination and discuss your medical history before offering an allergic rhinitis diagnosis.

Moreover, they may also suggest an allergy blood test or skin prick test to help confirm specific allergy triggers for your hay fever.

There is no single hay fever remedy. Depending on the allergy causing your symptoms, there are a few different types of hay fever medications the doctor may suggest. Some of these include:

• Nasal ipratropium
• Leukotriene modifiers
• Cromolyn sodium
• Oral corticosteroids
• Nasal corticosteroids
• Decongestants
• Antihistamines

While nonallergic and allergic rhinitis both have similar symptoms, the biggest difference between them is that allergic rhinitis is triggered by an allergy, while the direct causes of nonallergic rhinitis aren’t known at this time.

The biggest difference between hay fever and a cold is that hay fever is caused by allergies while a cold is caused by a virus.

This means that while a cold is contagious, hay fever is not contagious.

Both sinusitis and allergic rhinitis affect the nose and sinuses. However, hay fever occurs when you breathe in something to which you are allergic.

Sinusitis on the other hand simply describes an inflammation on the inside lining of the sinuses due to infection.

So, while both sinusitis and hay fever have similar symptoms that affect the nasal passages and sinuses, the difference between them is that hay fever is triggered by allergies and is a chronic condition, while sinusitis is usually caused by an infection and can be both acute or chronic.

With Maple, you can start talking to a doctor about your symptoms in minutes. We’re a healthcare platform for fast, convenient 24/7 access to Canadian doctors.

Simply log in, tap a button to request a consultation, and we’ll connect you to a doctor via live chat or video. You can visit our How it works page to learn more.

Our doctors can assess symptoms and provide treatment, including prescriptions as necessary.