With high pollen counts flaring up allergies, antihistamines have become a top-seller at Sunraysia pharmacies.

Eric Oguzkaya, Chemist Warehouse Mildura owner, said sales of hay fever treatments were up 20 to 30 per cent on last year.

“Mildura’s always got bad hay fever with all the different pollens – there’s always something flowering,” he said.

“This year we’ve also seen people tending to need multiple treatments like a nasal spray and tablets.”

Sue Warman, a pharmacy assistant at Centro Mildura Pharmacy, said there were many forms of hay fever treatment available.

“There are nasal sprays and over the counter treatments including antihistamine tablets,” she said. “We are selling quite a bit.

“Just about every second person coming in is wanting some form of hay fever medication.”

While experts are warning this spring could be the worst hay fever season in years, there are some simple measures people can take to avoid the sneeze season.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Saturday’s Sunraysia Daily 24/10/2009.