Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Our membership costs $79.99/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
• Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
• Second medical opinions: access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
• Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
• Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
• Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
• Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX cards, as well as Google and Apple Pay.

At Maple, we proudly prioritize privacy as a cornerstone of our virtual care services. We strictly adhere to privacy and healthcare legislation in Canada, such as PIPEDA and PHIPA regulations, to ensure patients' personal and health information remains completely private and safeguarded.

Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

All providers delivering healthcare through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their licensing regulatory colleges, and in all instances, must act in accordance with the governing principles set out in the telemedicine policies of each medical regulator in the applicable province.

Regulators across Canada support and recognize the value of services like ours, and the way in which they can benefit patients, physicians, and Canada’s broader healthcare system by improving access to care and increasing efficiencies in the delivery of care.

Yes. A doctor on Maple will be able to recommend hay fever treatment options following an allergic rhinitis diagnosis.

The doctor will want to discuss your medical history, perform a physical exam, and possibly request additional tests to confirm the condition before offering a hay fever diagnosis.

Yes. Our physicians can prescribe hay fever medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or have it delivered to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it works page to learn more.

Hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis, is an allergy-related condition that causes symptoms similar to that of a cold.

Unlike a cold, hay fever symptoms aren’t caused by a virus, but rather from reactions to indoor or outdoor allergens.

Typically hay fever affects the eyes and sinuses the most.

The most common allergic rhinitis symptoms include:

• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Itchy nose, roof of mouth, or throat
• Fatigue related to hay fever
• Postnasal drip, resulting in a sore throat or cough from hay fever
• Blue-colored, possibly swollen skin under the eyes
• Watery, red, or itchy eyes

While it’s less commonly found, hay fever can cause a rash in some cases. People experiencing severe congestion may also experience sinus headaches due to hay fever.

The most common hay fever causes are allergic responses to allergens found indoors and outdoors.

Some of the most frequently found allergenic triggers are:

• Dust mites
• Pollens
• Skin or saliva shed by animals with feathers or fur (pet dander)

While it could occur at any time of year, there are two hay fever seasons from March to June and May to October. During these times, certain allergens are more likely to cause hay fever symptoms.

A doctor on Maple will likely suggest a physical examination and discuss your medical history before offering an allergic rhinitis diagnosis.

Moreover, they may also suggest an allergy blood test or skin prick test to help confirm specific allergy triggers for your hay fever.

There is no single hay fever remedy. Depending on the allergy causing your symptoms, there are a few different types of hay fever medications the doctor may suggest. Some of these include:

• Nasal ipratropium
• Leukotriene modifiers
• Cromolyn sodium
• Oral corticosteroids
• Nasal corticosteroids
• Decongestants
• Antihistamines

While nonallergic and allergic rhinitis both have similar symptoms, the biggest difference between them is that allergic rhinitis is triggered by an allergy, while the direct causes of nonallergic rhinitis aren’t known at this time.

The biggest difference between hay fever and a cold is that hay fever is caused by allergies while a cold is caused by a virus.

This means that while a cold is contagious, hay fever is not contagious.

Both sinusitis and allergic rhinitis affect the nose and sinuses. However, hay fever occurs when you breathe in something to which you are allergic.

Sinusitis on the other hand simply describes an inflammation on the inside lining of the sinuses due to infection.

So, while both sinusitis and hay fever have similar symptoms that affect the nasal passages and sinuses, the difference between them is that hay fever is triggered by allergies and is a chronic condition, while sinusitis is usually caused by an infection and can be both acute or chronic.