Allergic Rhinitis

Do you experience frequent bouts of sneezing and an itchy, runny nose that affects your daily work? If yes, you might be suffering from allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis or nasal allergy is characterized by symptoms like sneezing, watery eyes, nasal itching and/or congestion and runny nose. These symptoms occur when you come in contact with a potential allergen (substance that causes an allergic reaction) like dust, pet dander and certain seasonal pollens.

Allergic rhinitis can drastically affect your quality of life and therefore needs to be treated. Homeopathy is an effective medical option that offers significant relief in patients affected by allergic rhinitis.

Allergic Rhinitis - Types

Mainly, allergic rhinitis or nasal allergy is classified into two categories; viz., seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis.

·        Seasonal allergic rhinitis: In this, a person is affected by allergy episodes during certain seasons, especially during pollen season.

·        Perennial allergic rhinitis: In this, a person experiences allergy episodes intermittently throughout the year.

Each year, patients shed huge amounts of money for doctor’s consultation and medication to treat this chronic ailment. It largely affects an individual’s quality of life, where they experience missed days at work and school along with impaired performance. Early and judicious treatment can save money and offer significant relief from this distressing condition.

Allergic Rhinitis - Causes

Several allergens (substances inducing allergy in the body) are responsible for troublesome episodes of allergic rhinitis. Common causes include:

·        Pollen

·        Dust

·        Outdoor moulds

·        House dust mites

·        Wood dust

·        Exposure to certain animals (including pets)

·        Cockroaches

·        Rodents

·        Irritants such as smoke, pollution, and strong smells.

Exposure to allergens such as pollen or dust by a susceptible individual causes his/her body to release certain chemicals, including ‘histamine’, which mainly accounts for developing allergy symptoms such as itchy nose, swelling, and mucus production. In addition to allergens, other factors that cause allergic rhinitis (nasal allergy) include environmental and genetic factors.

Weather: Hot, dry, and windy weather can possibly trigger an allergy attack, which may be due to increased amounts of pollen in the air because of such weather. On the other hand, fewer incidences of allergy attack may be reported during cool, damp, rainy days because most pollen can get washed to the ground in such conditions.

Genetics: Allergic diseases are significantly linked to heredity. It means that you are likely to have 50% chances of developing allergic rhinitis (nasal allergy), if both of your parents are affected by the same. Also, you have 30% chances of developing it if only one of your parents suffers from allergic rhinitis (nasal allergy).

However, depending from person to person, triggers associated with allergic rhinitis (nasal allergy) may vary, and it is essential for patients to identify their causative factors that are responsible for the allergic attacks.

Allergic Rhinitis - Symptoms

It all starts with a runny nose and constant sneezing!

A person with allergic rhinitis (nasal allergy) may experience one or a combination of the following symptoms:

·        Constant Sneezing

·        Runny nose (rhinorrhoea)

·        Nasal congestion

·        Itchy nose, ear, throat, eyes

·        Watery eyes

·        Reduced sense of smell

·        Post-nasal discharge

Additional symptoms in some chronic cases of allergic rhinitis may include:

·        Cough (because of post-nasal discharge)

·        Sinus headaches

·        Nasal polyps

·        Eyelid swelling

·        Blocked ears

·        Redness of the white part of eyes (Injected sclerae)

How is allergic rhinitis or nasal allergy diagnosed? Usually, doctors will take a complete history of patient suspected for allergic rhinitis, and prognosis is made. In addition, physical examination that helps clinicians to affirm the condition, include the following:

·        Pale discoloration of the lining of the nose

·        Nasal polyps in some cases

·        Swelling of the eyelid

·        Allergic shiners – darkened areas under eyes, which may be due to congestion of venous blood

Allergic Rhinitis - Diagnosis

Also, some skin tests can help diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, which includes:

  • Skin prick test: This test uses a small amount of purified allergen extract that is pricked into the skin of your arm and then it is observed for any signs of an allergic reaction. Positive test for this test would be a raised bump at the tested site that will confirm your allergy to the injected substance.
  • Intradermal tests: In this test, the allergen extract is injected between layers of the skin and observed for allergic reaction on the tested site.