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Allergic rhinitis is the medical term for hay fever, a condition due to allergy that mimics a chronic cold. Hay fever is a misnomer since hay is not a usual cause of this problem and there is no fever. Many substances can cause the allergic symptoms in hay fever, most commonly pollen and most commonly in the Springtime. (Rhinitis means "inflammation of the nose" and is derivatived from Rhino, referring to the nose). Symptoms include nasal congestion, clear mucus, sneezing, nose and eye itching, and tearing eyes. Post-nasal dripping of clear mucus frequently provokes coughing. Eye itching, redness, and tearing frequently accompany the nasal symptoms. If this condition persists throughout the year it is termed perennial allergic rhinitis. If not, it is called seasonal allergic rhinitis.