IT'S not a good time to be a hayfever sufferer. The warm spring weather has meant that sniffles and sneezes have arrived early for hundreds of people in East Lancashire.

As if that was bad enough, sufferers may soon find they are unable to buy some popular brands of treatment over the counter after fears about side-effects.

They are probably at this very moment praying for low pollen counts.

Hayfever, or allergic rhinitis, is the inflammation of the nose lining and can be both permanent or seasonal, as in the case of majority of hayfever sufferers.

It is a distressing condition which affects about 20 per cent of the population and one in six teenagers.

There is no known cure for hayfever although there are a range of treatments to relieve symptoms.

The main options are anti-histamines, anti-inflammatories and nasal decongestants. Health experts are currently discussing whether anti-histamine tablets which contain Terfenadine should be available only on prescription, which could affect many popular brands. But the likely reduction in the availability of conventional, household-name drugs will almost certainly lead to people seeking alternative means of relieving their symptoms - sneezing, runny and blocked nose and itchy sensations in the eyes, nose and throat.

For those who don't mind needles being stuck in their bodies, acupuncture is proving a popular remedy.

In the traditional Chinese approach prevention is seen to be better then cure. On the eve of the hayfever season patients are asked to describe their own pattern of symptoms and the acupuncturist provides a treatment suited to each individual.

Acupuncturist Diana Grogan, whose practice is at Strawberry Bank, Blackburn, said: "I usually see patients in late March and early April just as the season is taking hold. We do a full case history and find out how long they have suffered, when it started and what they are allergic to.

"There are different types of hayfever and there is no set treatment. For sinus problems we would identify acupuncture points around the nose and upper sinuses.

"Patients usually hear about acupuncture by word of mouth and they usually need two treatments per season."

A recent survey of hayfever sufferers revealed that two thirds felt the condition impaired their performance at work. About 40 per cent said they found it difficult to use a VDU screen when suffering hayfever symptoms.

Half of the 300 sufferers quizzed tried to stay indoors and avoid parks and countryside to keep a tight rein on symptoms. More than 60 per cent said they found it difficult to drive.

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