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If you wake up with frequent sneezes and itchy nose in the morning or suffer from a runny nose, itchy eyes and nasal congestion very often, then there are higher chances that you are suffering from allergic rhinitis or hay fever. 

Nasal allergies or allergic rhinitis is very common and affects many people across the world. As per statistics, approximately 10-30% of the world’s population suffers from allergic rhinitis. Some people have allergic rhinitis symptoms only when the season changes, while some suffer from it year around. 

Allergic rhinitis symptoms can be mild and respond well to anti-allergic medications. But in some cases, these symptoms may become severe and cause troubled sleeping and interfere with day-to-day activities. What is allergic rhinitis? What are the causes, symptoms and types of allergic rhinitis? How can you prevent and treat allergic rhinitis symptoms? Read the post to know more!

 

What is allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory condition of nasal mucosa caused by exposure to certain allergens such as dust mites, pollens and animal dander. Allergic rhinitis symptoms appear due to overreaction of the immune system to certain stimuli or allergens which are typically harmless and produce no symptoms in others. 

Exposure to allergens causes an overreaction of the immune system and produces an allergic reaction. As a result, the body releases certain chemicals (histamine) from mast cells. Releasing histamine from mast cells caused various allergic symptoms like a runny nose, itchy eyes and nose and increased nasal congestion.

What are the causes of allergic rhinitis? 

Allergic rhinitis can be caused by indoor or outdoor allergens. In some cases, irritants like strong fumes and smoke also produce allergic rhinitis symptoms. 

Here is a list of some common allergens that trigger allergic rhinitis symptoms. 

• Indoor allergens: dust mites, molds, animal dander, cockroaches etc. 
• Outdoor allergens: pollens from trees and plants (ragweed, spores etc.) 
• Irritants: smoke, fumes, chemicals etc. 

What are the types of allergic rhinitis?

As per recent ARIA (allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma) guidelines, allergic rhinitis can be classified in two ways. One is based on the severity of symptoms and the other is based on the duration of symptoms. 

• Intermittent and persistent allergic rhinitis: Allergic rhinitis can be classified into intermittent and persistent allergic rhinitis depending upon the duration of symptoms. When a person has allergic symptoms for less than 4 days a week or for less than 4 consecutive weeks, then it is called intermittent allergic rhinitis. While, when a person suffers from allergic symptoms for more than 4 days in a week and is persistent for more than 4 consecutive weeks, then it classifies as persistent allergic rhinitis. 
• Mild and moderate-severe allergic rhinitis: Allergic rhinitis can be classified into mild and moderate-severe types depending upon the severity of symptoms. When a person has mild allergic rhinitis symptoms that does not interfere with sleep and day-to-day activities, then it is called mild allergic rhinitis. While moderate-severe allergic rhinitis causes various troublesome symptoms such as disturbed sleep and interferes with routine activities. Severe allergic rhinitis requires immediate medical treatment. Otherwise, it may cause complications like asthma. 

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis

Here are some common symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

• Runny nose or stuffy nose
• Increased nasal congestion 
• Itching in the nose, eyes and around the mouth. 
• Redness of eyes with increased congestion in the eyes
• Frequent sneezing
• Postnasal drip 
• Headache due to congestion in some case
• Cough and wheezing 
• Scratchy sensation in the throat 
• Disturbed sleep and difficulty in completing day-to-day activities in some severe cases

Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis

Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is usually based on clinical symptoms and clinical examination. The doctor may perform a blood test to measure the level of IgE antibodies in the blood.

In some cases, doctors can also perform skin allergy test (skin prick test) which helps in identifying specific allergens which are responsible for causing allergy symptoms. 

Prevention of allergic rhinitis

Avoidance of allergens is one of the best ways to prevent allergic rhinitis symptoms. However, it is not possible all the time. As a preventive measure, you can take the following steps to reduce exposure to common allergens and prevent allergic rhinitis symptoms. 

• Summer and spring season is primarily called allergy season as during this season pollen counts are high. If you have a pollen allergy, check the weather report and avoid going outside when the pollen count is high. Use glasses and wear masks, if you cannot avoid going outside. Take shower after coming from outside and clean your nose with nasal douching.
• Avoid animal exposure, if you are allergic to animal dander. When it is not possible to avoid exposure, keep it to the limit and wear mask. Do not allow pets in your bedroom. Wash and bathe them regularly and wash your hands immediately after handling pets. 
• Keep rooms, floor and house surfaces (bathroom, kitchen counter) clean. Molds grow easily on wet surfaces, so, keep them clean and dry. 
• Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter for cleaning mattresses and floors to eliminate the risk of contamination. 

Along with these preventive measures, it is equally important to follow a healthy lifestyle which includes eating a healthy diet and regular exercise. Healthy lifestyle measures keep your immune system strong and reduce the occurrence of allergy symptoms.

Treatment of allergic rhinitis

Treatment of allergic rhinitis depends upon the severity of symptoms. Anti-allergic medication is available in various forms like tablets, nasal sprays and syrup. Your doctor can prescribe the best medication for you as per your existing symptoms. 

For mild cases, you can use over-the-counter anti-allergy (antihistamine) tablets. These medications offer quick relief in allergic symptoms but some of these may cause drowsiness, so avoid using them while driving a vehicle or operating machinery. 

Decongestants (nasal spray and liquid), corticosteroid spray and tablets and leukotriene inhibitors are some of the other commonly used medications for treating allergic rhinitis symptoms. 

For serious cases, your doctor may recommend immune therapy which involves injecting a small number of specific allergens for treating allergic symptoms.