Grass allergy

A grass allergy is when you experience symptoms after exposure to pollen from grass. Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and thunderstorm asthma are conditions that can be caused or made worse by pollen exposure.

Grass pollen spreads when it is blown by the wind. It can travel long distances. Australian native grasses are less likely to cause allergies than those introduced from overseas, such as exotic or lawn-variety grasses.

If you have a grass allergy, you may experience symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) or thunderstorm asthma.

Symptoms of hay fever can include:

• runny or blocked nose
• sneezing
• itchy, watery or red eyes
• throat irritation
• snoring

Symptoms may range from mild to severe.

Thunderstorm asthma occurs when a thunderstorm causes large amounts of pollen to spread in the air. This can trigger asthma symptoms in people with asthma who are also allergic to pollen. Symptoms may include:

• coughing
• chest tightness
• wheezing
• shortness of breath

Grass allergy is when your immune system reacts following exposure to grass pollens, leading to conditions including hay fever and thunderstorm asthma.

You are more likely to experience symptoms of grass allergy during times of year when grasses are producing more pollen.

Different parts of Australia have different grass allergy seasons. You might have symptoms during different times of the year, depending on where you live.

In northern coastal areas, grass allergy season is around January, February and March. In southern Australia, it's generally around October, November and December.

There is more grass pollen in inland areas. There is also more pollen on Australia's south coast than the east coast.

It can be hard to completely avoid exposure to pollen, and some pollen seasons can last for months.

To find out when you might be at risk from certain types of pollen, check the ASCIA pollen calendar (Opens in new tab).

See your doctor if you feel that symptoms of grass allergy are affecting your general health and quality of life. You may require a plan to manage these allergies.

If you have symptoms of asthma such as chest tightness, wheezing, shortness of breath or coughing, see your doctor for a plan to manage your asthma.

If you have a grass allergy and asthma

If you have a history of asthma and have symptoms of hay fever or thunderstorm asthma, you should see your doctor to review your asthma management plan. This is because grass allergy can make asthma worse.

Read about how to get the most out of your doctor's appointment.

When to seek urgent care

If you or someone else is having severe trouble breathing, call triple zero (000) immediately or go to your nearest emergency department.

Your doctor can diagnose grass allergy by:

• asking you about your symptoms, any patterns or triggers and if they change when you are on holiday or away from home
• examining your nose and eyes
• referring you for allergy testing

You may find it helpful to keep a diary of your symptoms to discuss with your doctor.

Your doctor may also refer you to a specialist allergy doctor.

Your doctor may recommend medicines to improve your hay fever symptoms. If you have severe hay fever and your symptoms do not improve with medicines, your doctor may refer you for immunotherapy treatment.

How is hay fever treated?

Your doctor or pharmacist may recommend medicines to relieve your hay fever symptoms, such as:

• Antihistamines (tablets, eye drops or nasal sprays) to help stop mild symptoms such as sneezing and itchy eyes.
• Corticosteroid nasal sprays to reduce inflammation. These can be very effective but you need to use them regularly.
• Decongestants (nasal sprays or tablets) relieve a blocked nose, but can cause side effects such as tremors, sleeping problems, anxiety and increased blood pressure. They should not be used for long periods.
• Salt water nasal sprays can relieve a blocked nose.

It is important that you follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. Sometimes you may need to take more than one of these medicines to manage your symptoms. Most of these medicines are sold over-the-counter at pharmacies without a prescription.

Immunotherapy treatment

Immunotherapy must be prescribed by a doctor specialising in allergies. During immunotherapy, you will be exposed to small but increasing doses of allergens over a long period of time to help your body learn to tolerate the allergen without reacting to it. Treatment usually starts to work within a few months but needs to be continued for up to 5 years.

If you experience thunderstorm asthma, your doctor may recommend taking asthma medicine as a precaution in spring, or when you first notice coughing or wheezing.

It is important that you have a current asthma action plan (Opens in new tab).

Untreated, grass allergy can lead to:

• recurrent sinusitis or ear infections
• poor sleep and fatigue during the day
• headaches
• difficulty concentrating
• asthma that is harder to control

Grass allergy can't be prevented, but reducing exposure to pollen can help reduce your symptoms. Below are some tips that might help:

• Stay indoors when you can, especially when the pollen counts are high or when it is windy.
• Wear protective glasses (or sunglasses) to shield your eyes when you are outside.
• Try to avoid mowing your lawn. Stay inside while it's being mown. If you can't avoid mowing your lawn, consider wearing a mask and taking an antihistamine — choose one that doesn't make you drowsy.
• Keep your windows closed at home and in the car.
• If you use air conditioning in the car, put it on the recirculate setting.
• Dry your bedding and clothing indoors or in a dryer.
• Have a shower when you get home to wash off pollen residue from outside.

Here are some ways to try to prevent thunderstorm asthma:

• Stay inside just before, during and after thunderstorms and on days with high pollen counts.
• Use your asthma preventer medicines every day, especially when pollen counts are high or thunderstorms are predicted.

Learn more about pollen allergy (Opens in new tab) and thunderstorm asthma (Opens in new tab) at Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA).

Visit Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia to read about allergic rhinitis (Opens in new tab).

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Download 'Lung health for kids (Opens in new tab)', an app for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and families that has information about some common lung conditions.

Languages other than English

Visit the Better Health Channel, Victoria for thunderstorm asthma resources (Opens in new tab) in many languages.