Nurse's Notes

Hello everyone, my name is Mona and I am one of the three nurses in the sickbay at ICOM.

I will be talking about hay fever as we are in the beautiful season of spring where flowers bloom, but so do our allergies.

Hay Fever – Allergic Rhinitis

Is caused by allergen - pollen. Pollen is carried in the air and when you get in contact with pollen, it causes an immune response. Where your body thinks it's in danger and tries to fight it off. Hay fever can affect anyone and unfortunately some of our students in primary and secondary are affected by hay fever symptoms. 

Hay fever affects the eyes, throat, ears and sinuses. As parents you probably have noticed that your child's symptoms may be worse at school, which is because the school is opposite Davis Creek, causing the particles to be blown to school grounds. This is easily treated and doesn't affect school attendance. 

Hay Fever Symptoms

• Itchy, red, swollen or watery eyes
• Frequent sneezing
• Runny, congested nose
• Itching ears, nose, throat, and roof of mouth

Untreated symptoms can last for hours, days or weeks, causing: 

• Fatigue due to symptoms and poor sleep
• Poor concentration
• Headache
• Mouth breathing
• Flare up of asthma 
• Sinusitis (sinus infection)
• Eye infection
• Postnasal drip

Hay Fever Triggers

• Tree pollen – early spring
• Grass pollen – end of spring and summer

• Ragweed pollen – in autumn

   

Hay Fever Treatments

Minimise contact with allergen. Wash away the pollen from face and body.  Change clothing. Stay indoors in high pollen count days and thunderstorm. Keep windows closed.

Hay Fever Medication 

Oral Antihistamines

Eye Drops

Nasal Spray

Helpful Apps

• Pollen Count & Alerts
• Melbourne Pollen count 

You can also use the internet and search "pollen count today" to be updated on pollen count.                                      

If your child has symptoms of hay fever, please complete an Allergy Care Plan with your GP and let us know, so we can accommodate your child at school. 

Allergy Care Plan

If your child’s symptoms are all year around and not resolved by medication please see your GP and get a referral to see an immunologist.

EHay Fever Resources 

For any questions, please call us or email at nurse@icom.vic.edu.au