26 February 2025, Wednesday

Allergic Rhinitis

The word "rhinitis" is a universal term, аs a result of inflammation, a number of unpleasant symptoms may occur, including sneezing, itching, nasal congestion, runny nose and postnasal mucosal runny nose (a feeling of mucus secreting through the back wall of the pharynx).

Short-term episodes of rhinitis are usually caused by viral infections of the respiratory tract, such as the common cold. Allergic rhinitis is caused by an allergic inflammatory reaction to particulate matter in the air. Chronic (long-term) rhinitis is usually caused by allergies, but it can also be caused by excessive use of certain medications, such as vasoconstrictor sprays.

 

Who can get allergic rhinitis?

Approximately 20% of people of any age may develop allergic rhinitis. The risk of developing it is high in people with asthma or eczema, as well as in people with a family history of asthma or allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis can begin at any age, although symptoms first appear in infancy or during puberty. symptoms are often most acute in children and people aged 30 to 40 years. However, the severity of symptoms tends to change throughout a person's life. Some people have periods when they have no symptoms at all.

 

What are the causes of the occurrence?

When an allergen enters the lower respiratory tract, it can cause a disease accompanied by allergic inflammation of the bronchi, bronchial asthma, and if it gets on the mucous membranes of the eyes, it can cause allergic conjunctivitis.

By protecting the body from foreign, harmful elements such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins that enter through the respiratory tract, the immune system causes symptoms such as runny nose, nasal congestion, nasal mucus, sore throat, and itchy ears and eyes. An allergic reaction can occur with similar symptoms in response to ingestion of usually harmless allergens.

Allergic rhinitis can be seasonal (occurs at certain times of the year)or year-round (most of the year).

Allergens that most often cause seasonal allergic rhinitis include pollen from trees, grass, and weeds.

The main allergens that cause year-round allergic rhinitis are house dust mites, cockroaches, dandruff on the skin of pets and fungi (mold).

 

What symptoms may appear?

Identifying Allergens and other triggers – Your doctor may ask the following questions to identify allergens and other triggers of allergic rhinitis

• Nose –  Runny nose, stuffy or stuffy nose, sneezing, itchy nose, nasal mucus discharge, loss of taste, pressure on the face or pain.
• Eyes – redness of the eyes, the feeling of grains of sand in the eyes, swelling and darkening of the skin of the lower eyelids - "allergic shine").
• Sore throat and ears – sore throat, hoarse voice, feeling of noise and palpitations in the ears, sore throat or itchy ears.
• Breathing during sleep through the mouth, snoring, frequent awakenings, daytime fatigue, disruption of normal activities (for example, work).
• Postnasal mucosal runny nose, persistent nasal congestion and sleep problems are mainly observed during year-round allergic rhinitis.

 

 

How to make a diagnosis?

Identifying Allergens and other triggers – Your doctor may ask the following questions to identify allergens and other triggers of allergic rhinitis.

• You can remember where you were and what you were doing before the symptoms appeared (for example, spending time outside or near animals).
• Specify the time of year during which you noticed the symptoms.
• Carefully examine the environment that constantly surrounds you - your home, workplace, school-for potential allergens.
• Your doctor may recommend skin tests if your symptoms are not controlled by medication or if it is unclear what is causing them.
• A small amount of various allergens is applied to the skin, and it is evaluated which of them cause a reaction.
• In case of contraindications to skin preparations, a blood test is performed, which is also accessible and informative.

 

How is the healing process going?

Treatment of allergic rhinitis involves reducing exposure to allergens and other triggers in combination with drug therapy. For most people, this combined approach can effectively control symptoms, and in uncontrolled or severe cases, allergen immunotherapy can help.

1. Avoid Allergens - Sometimes people can control their allergic rhinitis by simply avoiding things that cause symptoms. For example, if symptoms such as sneezing and itchy eyes occur while playing with cats, it is necessary to limit contact for a long period of time (which people almost do not agree to) or several hours before taking antihistamines.

2. Intranasal sprays based on corticosteroids - The medicine is prescribed only by a doctor in certain dosages.

3. Oral antihistamines - The medicine is prescribed only by a doctor in certain dosages.

4. Eye drops - The medicine is prescribed only by a doctor in certain dosages.

5. Decongestants or vasoconstrictors are also available as sprays - The medicine is prescribed only by a doctor in certain dosages.

6. Intranasal  flushing with saline or saline solution - The medicine is prescribed only by a doctor in certain dosages.

7. Immunotherapy with allergens. Immunotherapy involves trying to change a person's immune system's response to allergens - The medicine is prescribed only by a doctor in certain dosages.