Hay fever: the 'misery' season

• February: birch pollen.
• March/April: hazel, yew and alder.
• June/August and later: grasses, nettle and dock.

Do's and don'ts for parents
Do:

• Keep windows closed at night.
• Try to minimise early morning outdoor activities (most pollen is released before 10am).
• Keep car windows closed, and use 're-circulated' rather than 'fresh' air when travelling.
• Limit outside activity when humidity is high or there is wind.
• Take beach holidays, preferably during the height of the pollen season - here the onshore breeze during the day will keep pollens inland.
• Try to avoid farms and orchards.

• Allow play around freshly mown lawns; this disturbs the contained pollens and moulds.
• Allow play with fallen, raked leaves - for the same reason.
• Don't use bed linen that has been dried on an outside line - pollens and moulds may well have collected on these.