Allergic rhinitis

Crucial exams take place during adolescence in most societies, which can have a major impact on an individual's career trajectory. In a Guest Editorial appearing in the August issue of Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine, a team of UK experts review the evidence of the disease burden associated with hayfever  and summarize recent evidence suggesting that poorly controlled hayfever can adversely impact on exam performance. Authors Victoria Hammersley and Aziz Sheikh of Edinburgh University's Allergy & Respiratory Research Group together with Samantha Walker of the charity Education for Health draw upon these data to reflect on the question of whether students with hayfever are unfairly disadvantaged by being forced to prepare for and sit examinations during the peak of the pollen season.

Uncontrolled hayfever (also known as seasonal or intermittent allergic rhinitis) can significantly reduce quality of life and interfere with attendance through school absences. There is also some evidence pointing to the fact that exam preparation and performance may be adversely affected by allergic rhinitis, particularly if patients are taking sedating medications.