title: Hay fever in adolescents and adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hay fever is found throughout the world. Epidemiological evidence suggests considerable geographical variation in its prevalence. Symptoms are caused by an IgE-mediated type 1 hypersensitivity reaction to airborne allergens such as pollen or fungal spores, and may also cause eye, sinus, respiratory, and systemic problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of treatments for hay fever in adolescents and adults? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to April 2008 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found 211 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: intranasal corticosteroids, oral antihistamines, intranasal antihistamines, oral leukotriene receptor antagonists, systemic corticosteroids, intranasal ipratropium bromide, oral decongestants, and combinations of these treatments.
authors: Allergy and Respiratory Research Group, Centre for Population Health Services, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors: Aziz
authors: A
authors: Sheikh
authors: Sukhmeet
authors: S
authors: Singh Panesar
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Salvilla
authors: Sangeeta
authors: S
authors: Dhami
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011058:Pollen; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists