Your body’s defence system (also known as immune system) helps you fight harmful things such as germs (viruses and bacteria) and protects you. When you are allergic to something, it means that your immune system is trying to protect you from something that is completely harmless – such as dust or pollen from plants and trees and sometimes, even certain food items. An allergy can affect any part of the body, such as the skin, eyes and nose.

Allergies are very common and can affect anyone. However, if any of your family members has a history of allergies, then you may be more likely to develop an allergy.

“When you are allergic to something, it means that your immune system is trying to protect you from something that is completely harmless”

Allergic rhinitis refers to an allergy that specifically affects the nose. The symptoms start to show when you breathe in something you’re allergic to. These are known as allergens. The most common allergens are:

• Outdoor allergens such as pollen and smoke
• Indoor allergens such as dust mites, pet hair or dander and mould (fungus)
• Other irritants such as cigarette smoke, perfumes, chemicals and exhaust fumes

Broadly, there are two types of allergic rhinitis – seasonal and perennial.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis is when your symptoms show or get worse only during certain periods during the year. This is more common when your allergen is something like pollen, which is found in abundance during certain periods of the year.

Perennial allergic rhinitis on the other hand, is when you have the symptoms throughout the year. This is more common when you are allergic to things which are present throughout the year, such as dust, smoke etc.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis appear when you come in contact with allergens such as dust mite, moulds, pollen, animal dander, strong fumes, etc. For most people, the symptoms of allergic rhinitis occur after breathing any of these allergen substances. Tree and grass pollen are the most common causes in the spring season, while ragweed, mould and weed pollen are common in winter season. Few people are allergic to certain foods, and consuming the same will put them at a risk of experiencing allergic symptoms

A person might be suffering from chronic nasal congestion, excess production of mucus, itching in the nose and more similar symptoms to allergic rhinitis. In these cases, allergy might be the cause for a person to develop allergic rhinitis.

For people suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis, the symptoms will occur only during a specific time of the year while for someone having perennial allergic rhinitis, they may experience symptoms over around the year.

Some of the early allergic rhinitis symptoms include:

• Repeated sneezing, especially in the early hours of the morning
• Runny nose and a thin, clear post-nasal drip that may cause a sore throat
• Watery and itchy eyes
• Coughing
• Itchy ears, nose, mouth, eyes and throat

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis that may develop later include:

• Stuffy nose
• Headache
• Fatigue and irritability
• Blocked ears
• Decreased sense of smell
• Swollen or puffy eyelids
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Itching in nose, eyes, or throat
• Hives (swollen, pale, red bumps on skin)
• Sore throat
• Pressure in the nose and cheeks
• Ear fullness and popping

A person will experience one or more of these above symptoms after coming in contact with an allergen. For a few people, symptoms occur only when they are exposed to a large number of allergens in the environment. For most people with allergic rhinitis the symptoms are mild and they can be easily managed or treated. However, for a few people the symptoms of allergic rhinitis can be severe or persistent and it may affect their daily activities, sleep or even their performance at work. The symptoms will gradually fade with time but it can take many years and it is unlikely that this condition disappears completely.

Allergic Rhinitis vs Common Cold

Allergic rhinitis causes cold-like symptoms and so the symptoms of allergic rhinitis can easily be confused with common cold. Unlike cold, allergic rhinitis is not caused by a virus. There are certain differences in the symptoms that can help you distinguish between the two.

Complications of Allergic Rhinitis

There can be some complications that may arise due to allergic rhinitis. It includes:

• Inability to sleep due to symptoms
• Frequent infection of the ears
• Frequent sinus infection
• Limited activities/reduced productivity
• Irritability
• Impaired hand-eye coordination
• Frequent headaches
• Development or worsening of symptoms

If these symptoms are hindering your daily life or activities immediately visit a doctor to know the cause of your symptoms with the help of proper diagnosis. You should keep a record of your symptoms over time as this will help the doctor to diagnose your condition appropriately and provide the required allergic rhinitis treatment.

The treatment for allergic rhinitis aims to manage your symptoms. You can consult the doctor to know a suitable treatment for your particular symptoms. You can draft a management plan with the help of your doctor to deal with the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

While trying to diagnose your problem, the doctor will ask detailed questions about, personal and family’s medical history, lifestyle, eating habits, work and home environment and the frequency as well as the severity of the symptoms you face. The doctor will also examine you and depending on what makes your symptoms worse or better, the doctor will know whether you have allergic rhinitis or some other problem.

The doctor may check the inside of your nose to detect nasal polyps, which is an unusual swelling from the lining of your nose or sinuses. This can be a condition caused due to having hay fever. If your Symptoms are severe, your doctor might ask you to get an allergy test done, so as to find out what you are allergic to. To know the exact cause of allergic rhinitis and to confirm this condition, the doctor may recommend a few specialized blood tests and skin tests for allergic rhinitis diagnosis

The procedure for diagnosing allergic rhinitis is mainly dependent on the symptoms reported by a person. The additional tests are required to know the exact cause/trigger of allergic rhinitis. These tests involve exposing the person to certain allergens and check if any reaction takes place.

The tests that can help in the appropriate diagnosis of allergic rhinitis:

• Skin Test

  The skin test is also known as a prick or scratch test and is the most common type of skin test done to detect allergies. In this test, a person’s skin is pricked or scratched before exposure to a solution which contains allergens. If the person has an allergy, the reaction will be evident is 10-20 minutes.

• Intradermal test

  This test is one of the most accurate and effective ways to diagnose allergic rhinitis, and to know if the person is suffering from any other allergies. Allergens, such as weed pollen or grass, are injected in the skin. After 20 minutes, the skin is monitored for any allergic reaction that is caused due to the allergen, this may involve the skin turning red or feeling an itchy sensation.

• Blood test

  At times it can be risky to do a skin test for severe reactions and to detect or confirm the allergy. Your doctor may recommend a blood test. In the blood test, the level of Immunoglobulin (IgE) antibody is observed when different allergens are exposed to the blood. If the level of IgE increases after being exposed to allergens, it is more likely that the person is allergic to that particular allergen. His or her condition can be triggered by that allergen. The results of blood tests are generally less accurate than skin tests.

In a few cases, further tests may be needed to identify other complications such as sinusitis or nasal polyps. These tests can help to detect further complications:

• Nasal Endoscopy – In this test, a tube with a light source at one end and a video camera at the other end (endoscope) is inserted up in the nose which helps the doctor to see the inside of your nose.
• Nasal Inspiratory Flow Test – A small device is placed on your nose and mouth, which measures the airflow when you inhale through the nose.
• Nasal Swab – This test is used to test the fluid from your nose for allergic rhinitis.

What Is The Link Between Allergic Rhinitis and Cold?

At times, it can be difficult to identify if the symptoms are due to a cold or due to an allergy. There are various kinds of cold viruses and these viruses tend to be very common at a certain time of the year, this is why one can mistake a cold for a seasonal allergy. Allergies, in general can be developed at anytime of the year and may usually last for 2-3 weeks.

Colds can last for about one or two weeks and itching is not a significant sign of cold, unlike allergies. To know more differences between allergic rhinitis and cold, read about the allergic rhinitis symptoms. You can consult your doctor for the right care plan and further treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Allergic Rhinitis or hay fever has no cure but the aim of the treatment is to bring the symptoms under control. The medication can help to lessen the effects and, in a few cases, it can also reduce the sensitivity of allergens.

The causes of allergic rhinitis are allergens such as pollen, dust, mites, mould, pet dander, chemical fumes, etc. These allergens lead to a reaction which causes allergic rhinitis symptoms that include coughing, sneezing, headache, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, throat, nose and eyes.

How to manage allergic rhinitis?

• Do not smoke and avoid being a passive smoker. In case you need help to quit smoking, consult your doctor for a management plan.
• Rinse your sinuses and nose with a salt water nasal spray or with a salt water solution. This will help to thin the thick mucus and get rid of the dirt or allergens after a rinse. It will also contribute to reduce the inflammation in your nose and improve your breathing.
• Most importantly, you can prevent the worsening of symptoms by avoiding the allergens that trigger them.

How To Avoid Allergens?

To avoid exposure to outdoor allergens, you can, take the following precautions:

• During the pollen season, stay indoors during mid-mornings and early evenings or when it is windy outside, as pollen counts in the air are usually higher during these times.
• Wear a mask while gardening or visiting a dusty place.
• Try not to hang clothes and towels to dry outside, as pollen and dust tends to stick to them.
• When you are outside, always wear glasses/sunglasses to protect your eyes and prevent rubbing of eyes; doing so will irritate them and could make your symptoms worse.

To avoid exposure to indoor allergens, you can for instance, take the following precautions:

• Try and keep the windows closed.
• Clean floors with a damp rag or mop, rather than dry-dusting or sweeping.
• Clean the walls regularly to get rid of patches of moulds (fungus), if any.
• Wash your blankets, pillow covers and bedsheets in hot water, frequently.
• Get the carpet and curtains cleaned from time to time.
• Use mite-proof covers for all your bedding – pillows, mattress, comforters etc. to reduce your exposure to dust mites.
• Keep the humidity levels in your house as low as possible (you can use a de-humidifier), so that moulds cannot thrive.
• Clean places such as the bathrooms, kitchens, attics and basements regularly.
• Make sure your air conditioning unit in your car and home is clean.

If you are allergic to pets, remember to:

• Wash your hands immediately after touching any pet animal.
• Wash your clothes thoroughly after visiting a house with pets.
• Keep your pet outdoors.

It is important that you treat your allergic rhinitis because if it is not treated on time, it can lead to complications such as ear infections, sinusitis and nasal polyps. Various medications are available for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. The allergic rhinitis medicine and treatment will depend on the severity and type of symptoms that a person is experiencing.

Here are the different allergic rhinitis medications and treatments that your doctor might recommend:

Antihistamines

Antihistamines help to block the action of the chemical called histamine. This chemical is released after an allergic reaction that provokes uncomfortable symptoms. Antihistamine can limit the release of histamines or help to lessen its effects once the body has released it. This allergic rhinitis medicine is available in various forms such as liquid, tablet, nasal spray, creams, and injections (in extreme cases). It may usually take around 30 minutes for an antihistamine medicine to start working. There are antihistamines that cause sedation and antihistamines that do not cause sedation.

Nasal Sprays

Nasal Sprays are one of the most effective ways for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Nasal sprays will help to deliver the medicine directly to the nose. The dose of medicine is less and nasal sprays have minimum side effects. There are corticosteroid nasal sprays available which help with immune response and inflammation in the nose. They are a long-term and useful way to manage the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. The doctor may recommend you to start using this spray before the seasonal symptoms start showing up. The daily use of nasal corticosteroids will help to reduce symptoms like coughing, wheezing, nasal congestion, etc.

Eye Drops

Eyes drops can help to reduce the itchiness in your yes and relieve you from watery eyes. It can also help to reduce other symptoms related to allergies for a short-term. However, overusing certain nose and eye drops may cause side effects, thus consult your doctor and make sure to get the best medicines for allergic rhinitis. The doctor will determine which medication is for long-term management and which one is for short-term use.

Decongestants

Decongestants come in the form of nasal sprays, nose drops and even oral pills. These are best used for a short period of time. It helps to relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis such as stuffy nose and sinus pressure. It also helps to shrink the blood vessels in the nose and reduce inflammation. After using it many times, the dose has to be higher for effective results. However, after the medication has worn off, it causes rebound congestion. Which means, once you have stopped taking medicines the symptoms will get worse. Nasal sprays or drops must not be used for more than 3 days as you can become dependent on them.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy or allergy shots can be recommended by the doctor in severe cases when nasal corticosteroids and antihistamines are not effective in controlling the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. This is a long-term treatment that will help to alter the body’s immune system in response to certain allergens or causes of allergic rhinitis. This medication requires a long-term commitment plan. These allergy shots include a small amount of allergens that you are allergic too, and taking these gradually will help your body get used to these allergens.

A course of allergy shots begins with a buildup stage wherein you visit the doctor one to three times a week for the shots. After 3- 6 months, you can get the allergy shots for three to five days in a week, and this is called the maintenance stage. At this stage, your allergy symptoms will fade away. Immunotherapy must be carried out only under the close supervision of a specially trained doctor.

Nasal Saline Washout

Allergens can stay in the nose and it is important to wash them out. You can rinse your nose with a mixture of salt and water to reduce the effects of the symptoms. This is known as nasal sinus washout and though you may find a kit with premixed ingredients it can also be made at home. You will need one teaspoon of salt that contains no iodine, anti-caking preservatives, one teaspoon baking soda and two and a half cup of boiled water. This solution must be taken in through the nostril while breathing in but do not let it reach the throat. This can also be done using a soft, rubber ear bulb syringe.

Mast Cell Stabilizers

Mast cells stabilizers are medicines which will help to block a type of white blood cell called the mast cell from releasing histamine. For allergic rhinitis treatment, these stabilizers are available in the form of nasal sprays and eye drops that work effectively to lessen the symptoms.

Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs)

Leukotriene is another chemical that our body releases when it comes in contact with allergens. Leukotriene inhibitors are prescribed by the doctor because it helps to block the release of these chemicals in the body and thus lessen the risk of allergic rhinitis symptoms.