A new trial is aiming to reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life of young Australians with hay fever, the country's most common allergic disease.
To help tackle this chronic condition, 17 general practices and allergy clinics across Australia have partnered with the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE), hosted at Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), to launch the ARISE Trial.
The clinical trial is seeking 14 to 29 year olds with hay fever, with participants to follow a specifically designed education package alongside their daily nasal spray. The trial will explore whether they experience less symptoms and have better quality of life.
Hay fever or allergic rhinitis, affects 24 per cent of Australians, up from 15 per cent in 2008. Despite seasonal triggers, such as grass pollen being a common cause of symptoms during spring and summer, many people with hay fever experience year-round symptoms due to indoor allergens like dust mites, pet dander and mould.
Professor Connie Katelaris AM, Co-chief Investigator and allergist at Campbelltown Hospital in NSW, said hay fever could significantly affect people's lives with symptoms ranging from sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny nose to sinus and ear infections, difficulty breathing and uncontrolled asthma.
"There is no cure for hay fever, but with the correct treatment you can control it," she said. "The problem is, up to 70 per cent of people with hay fever don't seek medical care and those that do aren't using nasal sprays properly."
"Poor symptom control can lead to fatigue, decreased mental health and underperformance at school and work. This trial aims to help participants better manage their symptoms to reduce the risk of adverse side effects taking over their lives."
Respiratory diseases, including allergic rhinitis, are estimated to cost the Australian economy about $4.5 billion a year, largely due to health system expenditure.
The NACE, which is funded by the Federal Government, will analyse the trial's results. If successful, the trial will change the way hay fever is managed, reducing the burden on those living with the disease, their families and the healthcare system.
Federal Assistant Minister for Health Ged Kearney said: "Hay fever is more than just a seasonal nuisance - it impacts school performance, workplace productivity, and overall wellbeing. This trial will help us find better ways to support young Australians who suffer from persistent symptoms.
"This trial is part of the Albanese Labor Government's broader commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of all Australians. We want to ensure they have access to the latest research-backed treatments so they can focus on what really matters: school, work, family and social life without being held back by hay fever."
Associate Professor Joy Lee, Co-chief Investigator and allergist at The Alfred and Austin Health in Victoria, said hay fever symptoms, which most commonly start in adolescence or young adulthood, were caused by a range of genetic, hormone and environmental factors.
"This long-term inflammatory condition affects all age groups, however the majority of allergy symptoms experienced by young people are attributable to allergic rhinitis, including 10 per cent of one to 14 year olds and 21 per cent of 15 to 24 year olds," she said.
NACE experts, in collaboration with the National Allergy Council (NAC), Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) and the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), have developed the trial's education package. It's designed to help improve young people's knowledge and adherence to the correct use of their intranasal steroid spray. A group of participants will receive weekly electronic alerts on how and when to use their spray, their region's pollen count, tips for managing symptoms and the latest research.
Over three months, participants will complete three online surveys and video calls with the study team. Researchers will monitor whether the group records better outcomes than those who only receive the standard education from their doctor.
Queensland's Micaela, 28, has multiple allergies, including to grass pollen, dust and mould. Her symptoms last year-round and can have a debilitating effect if left unchecked.
"I've had hay fever for as long as I can remember and correct management is key," she said. I used to have to close up the house on a windy day and avoid going out and I absolutely dreaded spring. You shouldn't have to check the pollen count before making plans.
"There are many allergy resources for primary school aged children, but as you begin to navigate high school, university, work, dating and travel, there is a distinct lack of education. You often have to rely on internet searches, social media and the personal anecdotes of strangers to try and safely navigate life with allergies."
Micaela said she hoped the trial would help young people, who are making life transitions, learn how to better manage their condition now and in the future.
Image: Micaela, 28, has multiple allergies, including to grass pollen, dust and mould
Professor Janet Davies, NACE Respiratory Allergy Stream Co-chair and Head of Allergy Research at QUT, said many people experienced year-round hay fever symptoms plus seasonal exasperations.
"Pollen count data shows an uptick in seasonal loads of pollen in the air in subtropical environments," she said. We're seeing the spring pollen season starting earlier in temperate climates, while summer grasses are now flowering and weed pollen will flower until April in some places."
For the trial, young people with hay fever are urged to contact a participating clinic. They must be recommended a combination nasal spray for hay fever treatment and prescribed an ASCIA Allergic Rhinitis Treatment Plan.
If eligible, they will be connected with the study team and referred into the trial. Recruitment capacity at each site will depend on demand and resources.
Participating sites include Victoria: The Alfred, Melbourne Allergy Asthma & Immunology Consultants, Goulburn Valley Health, Melbourne Allergy Centre & Children's Specialists (MACCS), The Royal Children's Hospital and Latrobe Regional Health. South Australia: Adelaide Allergy and Immunology Centre. Western Australia: Perth Allergy. Northern Territory: Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin Children's Clinic and Territory Medical Group. Queensland: Allergy Medical Centre Townsville and Specialist Network Benowa. NSW: Campbelltown Hospital and Trinity Medical Centre Wagga. ACT: Canberra Allergy. Tasmania: Allergy Tasmania.
Clinics interested in joining the national trial as a recruitment site, particularly in regional and remote areas, can email show email address "> show email address .
