Hay Fever Injections

Clinically also known as seasonal rhinitis, hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen from grass, trees and weeds.  Symptoms are typically seasonal, according to the early spring and summer months, with the worst symptoms occurring between March and September.  However, it can sometimes present as all year round symptoms (perennial) for some.  

Common symptoms of hay fever include sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, swollen eyes, blocked and congested nose, itchy and runny nose and sometimes an itchy throat/roof of the mouth.

The first line treatment options for someone experiencing hay fever are typically over the counter remedies such as oral antihistamines and/or steroid based nasal sprays.

However, there are some individuals whose symptoms are severe and not able to be managed with these remedies.  In this situation, it might be possible to prescribe a hay fever injectable medicine called Kenalog®.

Kenalog® is a licensed, prescribed corticosteroid medicine (triamcinolone acetonide), which is administered via a deep intramuscular injection into the buttocks.  A single dose can control symptoms of hay fever for an entire season.

Hay Fever Injections are suitable for people of age 18 and over, who are not pregnant or breast feeding, who have exhausted all first line remedies (such as oral antihistamines and/or nasal sprays) and are still experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of hay fever.  They are not suitable for individuals with a suppressed immune system (for any reason), who have a current infection or are having surgery in the 3 months following treatment. 

The initial dose would be one Kenalog® intramuscular injection (40mg) in the buttocks.  The Kenalog® medicine starts to work within 1-72 hours of administration, but sometimes it takes as long as 10 days.  The effects can last up to 3 months.  However, if symptoms return during the same hay fever season, a second top up dose can be provided.  There is generally no down time following injection, but the area can be a little sore from the injection temporarily.

Effects can vary.  There is no guarantee that the injection will work in 100% of cases, as everyone's immune system and response is different.  However, there is good evidence to prove its efficacy for the majority of people who are experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of hay fever that have not responded well to first line treatments.

A medical consultation with our Registered Nurse Prescriber is required to determine treatment suitability and to undertake a risk vs benefits assessment prior to consenting to the treatment.

There must be three weeks between any of your COVID-19 vaccinations and Kenalog® treatments (both before or after) to ensure your body develops the full response to the vaccination for maximum protection against the Corona virus.