Blooming heck: Taylor McGrath, 15, senses it’s hay fever season. Picture: Craig Borrow Source: Herald Sun
STUDENTS are in for a sniffle during the school holidays with hay fever symptoms in full bloom early.
More Victorians are sneezing their way into spring because of high doses of pollen from flowering trees and crops.
And a wet outlook could also temper holiday activities, with rain forecast late next week.
Ed Newbigin, pollen count co-ordinator at the University of Melbourne’s school of botany, said hay fever season was in full swing.
"We’re seeing more tree pollen than we have in the past years and that’s because the trees have returned to good health," he said.
Asthma Foundation Victoria chief executive Robin Ould said more people than usual were calling its helpline for advice on coping with asthma and allergies.
Dr Robert Stirling, from the Alfred’s asthma and allergy service, said a very high pollen count was forecast for Monday, the first day of school holidays.
"That’s a great day to start the holidays, so expect some symptoms," Dr Stirling said.
"People get nasal conjunction, blockage, a runny nose and they’re forever reaching for a tissue," he said. mr Ould said about 18 per cent of Victorians suffered from hay fever, and it was higher among children.
If children show signs of hay fever, they should take their medication and stay indoors.
"We don’t want to bottle them up," mr Ould said.
"make sure if they have asthma that they carry their blue reliever medication."
The weather bureau’s Gary Missen said temperatures for early this week would be above average, with 27C on Tuesday.