During 1995 and 1996, the Health Survey for England enquired about symptoms of non-infective rhinoconjunctivitis in the past year and a lifetime history of doctor-diagnosed hay fever among a nationwide sample of adults and children. The age distribution of these two outcomes is similar in males and females at all ages.

The prevalence of hay fever is lowest in young children, rises rapidly to reach a peak in adolescence and early adulthood, and thereafter declines gradually with advancing age.