Pollen and your health

What is pollen and how does it spread?

Pollen is a fine powder released by grasses, weeds and trees. Some pollen is carried through the air and can be breathed in.

Wind-blown pollen, mostly from grasses, is the main cause of hay fever, because it's light enough to travel far in the air. Pollen can also be spread by insects from gardens.

Pollen levels are highest in South Australia between spring and summer and is one of the most common triggers of seasonal allergy symptoms. High levels of grass pollen combined with certain thunderstorm conditions can also increase the risk of thunderstorm asthma.

Check the pollen forecast between October and December each year for metropolitan Adelaide.

How pollen can affect your health

If you are allergic to pollen, your immune system can react by releasing a chemical called histamine, which can cause different allergy symptoms.

Hay fever

Pollen is a common trigger for hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis. Symptoms can include sneezing, a runny or blocked nose and itchy, red or watery eyes.

Hay fever symptoms can affect sleep and everyday activities.

Learn more about hay fever symptoms, treatment and management.

Asthma

Pollen can also trigger asthma symptoms or make asthma harder to control.

Learn more about asthma symptoms, treatment and management.

Thunderstorm asthma

Thunderstorm asthma can occur when pollen levels are high/extreme and are combined with certain thunderstorm conditions. Symptoms can develop quickly and may affect people with asthma or hay fever, including some people who have never been diagnosed with asthma.

If high pollen levels and thunderstorms are forecast, people at risk should take steps to reduce their exposure and be prepared to manage asthma symptoms.

Learn more about thunderstorm asthma, who is at risk and what to do.

Preparing for pollen season

If you have hay fever, asthma or another pollen-sensitive condition, planning ahead can help to manage your symptoms.

Before the pollen season begins:

  • speak with your doctor or pharmacist about the best way to manage hay fever symptoms
  • check that your asthma action plan is up to date, if you have asthma, and make sure family members, carers, schools or childcare services have the most recent copy
  • make sure you have enough of your usual medications
  • know how and when to use your asthma reliever medication, if prescribed, and when to call Triple Zero (000)
  • check SA Health pollen and weather forecasts

Who is at higher risk?

You may be more likely to experience pollen-related symptoms, or be more affected by them, if you have asthma, hay fever, eczema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a chronic lung or heart condition, are pregnant.

South Asian or South East Asian populations appear substantially more vulnerable to severe pollen-triggered asthma.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience higher rates of asthma than the Australian population overall.

Not everyone in these groups will have symptoms, but knowing if you are risk can help you with planning and managing your symptoms. 

Reduce your exposure to pollen

During pollen season, to reduce your exposure and lower your risk of symptoms:

  • check SA Health pollen and weather forecasts and stay indoors when pollen is high, where possible
  • consider reducing outdoor activity in the morning, when high levels of pollen typically circulate
  • keep windows and doors closed
  • change bedding regularly
  • keep car windows closed and use recirculated air in the car, where possible
  • avoid mowing lawns and gardening when pollen levels are high
  • continue taking your hay fever or asthma medicines, as advised by your doctor or pharmacist.

When to seek medical help

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if:

  • you have hay fever symptoms that are frequent, severe or not improving with usual treatment
  • pollen makes your asthma worse
  • you are using asthma reliever medicine more often than usual
  • you develop wheezing, coughing, chest tightness or shortness of breath
  • you don't have an asthma action plan, or your action plan is not up to date
  • you get hay fever in the spring and have not been assessed for asthma or grass pollen allergy.

Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if your or someone you know:

  • has severe difficulty breathing
  • cannot speak comfortably
  • has blue lips
  • feels faint or is getting worse quickly
  • is not improving after asthma first aid, even if they have never been diagnosed with asthma.

Learn more