More the fact that after daring to hope that this year hay fever sufferers would be spared comes the realisation that the season has only been delayed by the long winter. But now it's here, and it's as big a problem as ever for many of our young people (among others).
Runny nose, itchy, sore streaming eyes, scratchy throat and aggravating cough can make life miserable for sufferers, just as the prospect of enjoying some warmer weather beckons. And this for something that's often dismissed (especially by non-sufferers) as a "minor" condition.
The symptoms caused by allergic rhinitis can be extremely debilitating, with 20 per cent of the country now suffering from the condition, according to a report from the Royal College of Physicians. Sleepless nights, the effect on social life and relationships - for something so small pollens can cause a major headache. It's not just pollens either - house dust mites, pets and mould can all be a cause of misery.
So isn't it good to know as National Allergy Week gets under way (10 to 15 May) that there is help out there for all sufferers. The week is run by Allergy UK, the country's leading medical charity dealing with allergies. It has a wealth of information providing invaluable support for sufferers and those who work with them. Each day covers a different allergic condition - hay fever, asthma, food allergy and intolerance, skin, indoor allergens and chemical sensitivity. You can find out more from its website at www.allergyuk.org.
Many of these special days and weeks that litter our calendar seem to be a bit spurious (not Youth Work Week, 1 to 7 November, of course). But National Allergy Week highlights a condition that can be miserable for sufferers and that affects so many of our young. Understanding it a bit better and knowing what to do to help sufferers is surely something not to be sneezed at.
Andy Hopkinson is content manager at the National Youth Agency. He can be contacted on andyh@nya.org.uk.
