Nothing to sneeze at: why so many Australians suffer from hay fever

Published

Friday, September 13, 2024 - 5:00 PM

Experts are warning of a challenging hay fever season this year, with a record one-in-four Australians now suffering from the debilitating condition.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows that 24 per cent of Australians are afflicted by allergic rhinitis – the scientific name for the widespread condition – up from 15 per cent in 2008.

Professor Janet Davies, National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE) Respiratory Allergy Stream Co-chair, said climate change had led to unpredictable pollen seasons, fuelling a rise in hay fever. She said environmental changes predisposing people to pollen allergens were also increasing the prevalence of the condition.

“In Australia, we’ve seen an increase in the duration of the pollen season, with the seasons lasting longer into summer and autumn,” said Davies, who also suffers from hay fever.

Kylie Gwynne, NACE Consumer Advisory Group Co-chair, has suffered from hay fever since she was a child, and now her 17-year-old son Sammy also has the condition.

Gwynne would like immunotherapy – treatment that involves small doses of grass pollens delivered by injection, spray or a drop under the tongue – to be made more accessible and affordable to people with hay fever.

Read the full story on The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.

See Associate Professor Joy Lee, NACE Respiratory Allergy Stream Co-chair, on 10 News First.