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Allergic rhinitis refers to a group of symptoms—such as a runny or itchy nose, watery eyes, and sneezing—that result from inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes. A common, but inaccurate, name for this condition is hay fever. It is estimated that 40-50 million people in the United States develop allergic rhinitis during their lifetime. Allergic rhinitis precedes the onset of asthma in over 50% of cases so treating it as early as possible is recommended.
Allergic Rhinitis With Severe Swelling of the Nasal Tissues |
Mucous membranes in the nose may become inflamed when certain airborne allergens—such as dust, pollen, mold, or animal dander—are inhaled. For those who are sensitive, these allergens stimulate an excessive immune reaction.
The body makes an immunoglobulin antibody (IgE) specific to that allergen and binds to mast cells that make chemicals, like histamine. This is called “sensitization.” The next time your body comes into contact with the allergen, the antibody recognizes it, and the histamine is released from the mast cell. The histamine causes dilation of nasal blood vessels and inflammation of the mucous membranes, which result in common allergy symptoms.
Types of Allergic Rhinitis
There are two types of allergic rhinitis:
- Seasonal—Symptoms occur only at certain times of the year, usually spring, summer, and early fall. In most cases, people with seasonal allergic rhinitis are sensitive to pollens from trees, grasses, weeds, or airborne mold spores.
- Perennial—Perennial allergic rhinitis causes symptoms all year-round. People who have this form of allergic rhinitis are generally allergic to house dust mites, cockroaches, animal dander, and/or mold spores. Occasionally, food allergies may cause perennial allergic rhinitis.
Complications of Allergic Rhinitis
In general, allergic rhinitis is a relatively mild condition that may cause discomfort, but is seldom serious. Some complications associated with allergic rhinitis include:
- Ear infections
- Sinusitis
- Recurrent sore throats
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Headache
- Conjunctivitis
What are the risk factors for allergic rhinitis?
[What are the symptoms of allergic rhinitis?
[How is allergic rhinitis diagnosed?
[What are the treatments for allergic rhinitis?][11]
Are there screening tests for allergic rhinitis?
[How can I reduce my risk of allergic rhinitis?
References:
Advice from your allergist: Rhinitis. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology website. Available at: http://www.acaai.org/public/advice/rhin.htm . Accessed September 15, 2008.
Allergic rhinitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated September 2008. Accessed September 15, 2008.
References:
Advice from your allergist: Rhinitis. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology website. Available at: http://www.acaai.org/public/advice/rhin.htm . Accessed September 15, 2008.
The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.
At this time, there are no screening tests or screening guidelines for allergic rhinitis.
References:
Advice from your allergist: Rhinitis. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology website. Available at: http://www.acaai.org/public/advice/rhin.htm . Accessed September 15, 2008.
Allergic rhinitis refers to a group of symptoms—such as a runny or itchy nose, watery eyes, and sneezing—that result from inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes. A common, but inaccurate, name for this condition is hay fever. It is estimated that 40-50 million people in the United States develop allergic rhinitis during their lifetime. Allergic rhinitis precedes the onset of asthma in over 50% of cases so treating it as early as possible is recommended.
Allergic Rhinitis With Severe Swelling of the Nasal Tissues |
Mucous membranes in the nose may become inflamed when certain airborne allergens—such as dust, pollen, mold, or animal dander—are inhaled. For those who are sensitive, these allergens stimulate an excessive immune reaction.
The body makes an immunoglobulin antibody (IgE) specific to that allergen and binds to mast cells that make chemicals, like histamine. This is called “sensitization.” The next time your body comes into contact with the allergen, the antibody recognizes it, and the histamine is released from the mast cell. The histamine causes dilation of nasal blood vessels and inflammation of the mucous membranes, which result in common allergy symptoms.
Types of Allergic Rhinitis
There are two types of allergic rhinitis:
- Seasonal—Symptoms occur only at certain times of the year, usually spring, summer, and early fall. In most cases, people with seasonal allergic rhinitis are sensitive to pollens from trees, grasses, weeds, or airborne mold spores.
- Perennial—Perennial allergic rhinitis causes symptoms all year-round. People who have this form of allergic rhinitis are generally allergic to house dust mites, cockroaches, animal dander, and/or mold spores. Occasionally, food allergies may cause perennial allergic rhinitis.
Complications of Allergic Rhinitis
In general, allergic rhinitis is a relatively mild condition that may cause discomfort, but is seldom serious. Some complications associated with allergic rhinitis include:
- Ear infections
- Sinusitis
- Recurrent sore throats
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Headache
- Conjunctivitis
What are the risk factors for allergic rhinitis?
What are the symptoms of allergic rhinitis?
How is allergic rhinitis diagnosed?
What are the treatments for allergic rhinitis?
Are there screening tests for allergic rhinitis?
How can I reduce my risk of allergic rhinitis?
References:
Advice from your allergist: rhinitis. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology website. Available at: http://www.acaai.org/public/advice/rhin.htm . Accessed September 15, 2008.
Allergic rhinitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated September 2008. Accessed September 15, 2008.
What is hay fever? American Lung Association website. Available at: http://www.lungusa.org/site/c.dvLUK9O0E/b.4061173/apps/s/content.asp?ct=3052305 . Accessed September 15, 2008.
A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.
It is possible to develop allergic rhinitis with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing allergic rhinitis. If you have a number of risk factors, ask your doctor what you can do to reduce your risk.
Genetic Factors
The primary risk factor for developing allergic rhinitis is genetic history. If both of your parents have allergic rhinitis, you have a 75% chance of developing it. If only one parent has allergic rhinitis, your risk is decreased to 50%.
Medical Conditions
Your risk of developing allergic rhinitis is increased if you have other allergies. The most common allergies or allergic conditions associated with allergic rhinitis include:
- Eczema
- Food allergies
- Asthma
Age
Although allergic rhinitis often first appears in childhood, it may appear at any age. In general, if the condition occurs in early childhood, it may not recur in adulthood. However, if the initial onset is at age 20 years or older, allergic rhinitis may continue through middle age.
Environment
There are some studies that indicate that people in "Westernized" countries may be at higher risk for developing allergic rhinitis, possibly due to more highly sanitized living conditions and reduced exposure to diverse allergens.
Other Risk Factors for Allergic Rhinitis
[ Allergic rhinitis][5] may be more prevalent in people who are exposed to the following allergens during work:
- Seed dust
- Wood dust
- Animal dander
- Textile dust
- Chemicals
- Rubber latex
- Certain foods and spices
- Storage mites
- Odors and fumes (eg, smoking, air pollution)
References:
Advice from your allergist: Rhinitis. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology website. Available at: http://www.acaai.org/public/advice/rhin.htm . Accessed September 15, 2008.
Carson-DeWitt R. Allergic rhinitis. EBSCO Health Library website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=15topicID=81 . Updated November 2007. Accessed September 15, 2008.
Allergic Rhin Rhinitis symptoms are caused when allergens or irritants create excessive congestion in the normal breathing process. Both perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis cause the same symptoms, which may include:
- Runny nose and nasal congestion
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Itchy nose, ears, or throat
- Sinus pressure
- Headache
- Sneezing
- Dark circles under your eyes (also known as “allergic shiners”)
- Post-nasal drip
- Fatigue
- Decreased sense of smell and taste
- Chronic cough
Your doctor or allergist will begin by taking a detailed medical history, which will include questions about your lifestyle, eating habits, family and medical history, and medication use. To establish an allergic rhinitis diagnosis, your doctor will also do a physical exam and will check inside your nose for signs of inflammation. Then, the health care professional can put in place a treatment plan for the allergic rhinitis.
Testing for allergic rhinitis may include:
- Skin test—Skin testing is one of the easiest, most sensitive, and least expensive ways to diagnose allergic rhinitis. A tiny allergen particle is placed under the skin with a needle. An allergic response is confirmed if the skin becomes raised, red, and itchy within 20 minutes.
- RAST blood test—For this test, your doctor will take a blood sample to determine the level of antibody production in your body. This test is used to detect levels of immunoglobulin in response to a specific allergen. Blood tests are only used when skin tests are not available, unsafe, or will not work, such as in cases of certain skin conditions like severe eczema or certain medication use.
- Nasal smear—A sample of your nasal secretions may be taken and examined to identify the cause of the rhinitis or to rule out other allergic conditions.
- Nasal endoscopy—To aid in diagnosis, a tiny fiberoptic camera may be used to view more deeply inside your nose.
References:
Advice from your allergist: rhinitis. American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology website. Available at: http://www.acaai.org/public/advice/rhin.htm . Accessed September 15, 2008.
Allergic rhinitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated September 2008. Accessed September 15, 2008.
There are no guidelines for reducing your risk of allergic rhinitis because it is not fully understood why some people develop allergic reactions to certain substances while others do not.
But researchers are studying to see if mothers can reduce allergies in their children by taking certain measures during pregnancy. For example, not having pets may help reduce wheezing in babies prone to allergies. For adults, closely following the Mediterranean diet may offer some protection from allergic rhinitis. More research needs to be done before any recommendations for reducing the risk of allergic rhinitis can be made.
American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy
Address:
1990 M Street, NW, Suite 680
Washington, DC 20036
Phone:
1-202-955-5010
Internet address:
http://www.aaoaf.org/patients/oaandyou.asp/
Description of services provided:
This professional organization, representing over 2,000 otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors), provides patient resources, such as physician search, allergy facts, and a pollen map of the US.
American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery
Address:
One Prince St.
Alexandria, VA 22314-3357
Phone:
1-703-836-4444
Internet address:
http://www.entnet.org
Description of services provided:
Information about allergies, treatment, medications, and how to find an otolaryngologist are available on this website.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
Address:
555 East Wells Street, Suite 1100
Milwaukee, WI , 53202-3823
Internet address:
http://www.aaaai.org
Description of services provided:
This site provides public education about a variety of allergies, testing, treatments, pollen counts and latest news/research in allergy, as well as how to find an allergist.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
Address:
85 West Algonquin Rd., Suite 550
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Internet address:
http://www.acaai.org
Description of services provided:
This site provides public education about a variety of allergies, treatments, tests, and news, as well as how to find an allergist.
American Lung Association
Address:
61 Broadway, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Phone:
1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872)
Internet address:
http://www.lungusa.org
Description of services provided:
You’ll find an A-to-Z list of respiratory conditions, including allergies, as well as data and statistics, research, and educational information.
References:
Advice from your allergist: Rhinitis. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology website. Available at: http://www.acaai.org/public/advice/rhin.htm . Accessed September 15, 2008.
Allergic rhinitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated September 2008. Accessed September 15, 2008.
You have a unique medical history. Therefore, it is essential to talk with your doctor about your personal risk factors and/or experience with allergic rhinitis. By talking openly and regularly with your doctor, you can take an active role in your care.
General Tips for Gathering Information
Here are some tips that will make it easier for you to talk to your doctor:
- Bring someone else with you. It helps to have another person hear what is said and think of questions to ask.
- Write down your questions ahead of time, so you don't forget them.
- Write down the answers you get, and make sure you understand what you are hearing. Ask for clarification, if necessary.
- Don't be afraid to ask your questions or ask where you can find more information about what you are discussing. You have a right to know.
Specific Questions to Ask Your doctor
About Treatment Options
- What is the best treatment option for me?
- What medications are used for allergic rhinitis?
- If medication is prescribed, what benefits and side effects should I expect?
- Will my medications interact with any supplements that I am taking?
- Might allergy shots be helpful?
- Are there any alternative treatments I should know about?
- Should I do anything differently in the event of a really severe attack?
About Lifestyle Changes
- What lifestyle changes would be most effective in treating this type of rhinitis?
- What can I do to avoid exposure to things that aggravate my allergies?
- Do I need to take any special precautions when I exercise?
- Do I need to take any special precautions when I travel?
About Outlook
- Should I expect any complications from allergic rhinitis?
- Are there any other factors that may exacerbate this condition?
- Will I have allergic rhinitis for my whole life?
- If I have children, will they develop allergic rhinitis?
