Pollen levels to remain 'very high' in Teesside affecting hayfever sufferers
People are being urged to take care over the next day or two
There is a call for people across Teesside and County Durham, who struggle with conditions like hayfever, to 'be cautious of their surroundings' over the next day or two.
The Met Office forecast suggests pollen levels are set to remain 'very high' over the next few days across the region.
Peter Horrocks, Chair of Community Pharmacy Tees Valley, which represents pharmacy contractors in Teesside, said: "The best thing to do is avoidance of this pollen. Now obviously people have busy lives and that's not always possible but common sense approaches such as avoiding open, grassy spaces, not putting your washing out to dry because that can then get pollen on it, keeping the windows shut in your house so you don't have pollen going through your house.
"For some people they'll also find that if they've been out and they've been exposed to pollen, often it's on your hair, clothes or face so popping into the house and having a shower or bath can help to remove some of that pollen of your body and fingers, so you're not rubbing it on your eyes or your nose. It's all about avoiding the allergens if possible.
"When we're treating hayfever we typically look at three different types of treatments; that can be a corticosteroid for the nasal symptoms, an oral antihistamine, which is a general antihistamine which prevents allergy, and also eye drops if the patient particularly suffers with the itchy eye symptoms that can be found in hayfever.
"It's very much a kind of 'step up' approach, starting with one product and if that isn't giving satisfactory release, that can be stepped up. For example you might start with a nasal spray but then adding an oral antihistamine and then adding eye drops as well. As with all things, if symptoms don't improve or they get worse then a further consultation may be required with the patient's GP."