Hayfever in the United Kingdom

In the U.K. allergy to grass pollen is the single most important cause of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (hayfever). The prevalence of the disease appears to be increasing, although the precise reasons for this are at present unknown. The introduction of non-sedating H1-selective antihistamine drugs and local corticosteroids has been an important therapeutic advance. Immunotherapy (desensitization) has a part to play in the treatment of hayfever unresponsive to anti-allergic medication but because of the danger of systemic reactions its use is limited to specialized centres.