In this article, we intend to shed light on:
What is Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is a reaction to allergens, which are minute airborne particles found indoors and outdoors such as dust mites, mildew, pet dander, and plant and tree pollen. 2
Types of Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic Rhinitis is the medical name for hay fever or nasal allergies, and it comes in two types:3
Seasonal allergy: This is the most common type of allergy and often occurs in the spring, late summer, and fall in response to environmental allergens such as pollen.
Perennial allergies: Year-round allergies are caused by indoor exposure to airborne pollutants (such as home dust).
The difference between Allergic Rhinitis and sinusitis
Allergic rhinitis and sinusitis are related because allergic rhinitis obstructs your nose, which in turn obstructs your sinuses.9 And this is why people get confused about having allergic rhinitis or sinusitis most of the time. However, there are some difference between Allergic Rhinitis and Sinusitis, as follows 10:
- Reason: Allergic rhinitis develops when the immune system perceives innocuous airborne particles as a threat, causing the body to produce histamine and other mediators that induce an allergic reaction. Sinusitis is caused by inflammation of the sinuses' inner lining caused by viral and bacterial factors.
- Symptoms: Allergic rhinitis can cause runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, postnasal drip, cough, and other symptoms. Sinusitis symptoms include nasal congestion, discolored nasal discharge, sinus pressure, headache, and fever.
Despite the fact that Both conditions can reduce the quality of life, work, and sleep, there are few symptoms that help you to distinguish between the two conditions. For example:
Itchy nose, sneezing and associated itchy, watery eyes are more common with allergic rhinitis or allergies.
The color and kind of mucus might assist you to figure out what's causing your nasal congestion. Allergies are frequently associated with clear nasal drainage. Large quantities of persistent yellow or green nasal discharge may indicate sinusitis.
Allergic Rhinitis symptoms
Allergic rhinitis symptoms appear when histamine, a naturally occurring substance, is released by your body in response to inhaling allergens through your mouth or nose due to an immune system reaction. The mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, and throat swell and become itchy as they try to evacuate the allergen.2
Typically, the patient experiences one or more of these symptoms right away after coming into touch with an allergen. Symptoms include:3
Itchy nose and sneezing.
Runny and stuffy nose.
Coughing along with an itchy or painful throat.
Itchy and watery eyes.
Dark circles under the eyes.
Frequent headaches.
Excessive fatigue.
Hives.
Can allergic rhinitis cause fever?
Allergies, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, do not cause fever. Although allergic rhinitis does not cause a fever, patients with allergic rhinitis or asthma are more prone to acquire chronic sinus infections, which can result in a fever. 11
Allergic Rhinitis diagnosis
In most situations, allergic rhinitis is diagnosed based on the affected person's observable symptoms and family history. However, it is sometimes necessary to confirm this, especially if the cause of allergic rhinitis is unknown. This may be accomplished by doing the following:8
1- In skin test (intradermal)
The most precise approach for establishing whether someone has allergic rhinitis and defining the kind of allergen is to inject various allergens, such as grass and weed pollen, beneath the skin in specific regions. After 20 minutes, it is evaluated for allergic symptoms, which commonly include skin reddening and itching.
2- Prick test
The prick test is the most common type of skin test. This test is likewise performed on the skin, but prior to administering an allergen-containing solution, the skin is poked or scraped. The results are then accessible as a skin allergic response within 10-20 minutes.
3- Serum blood test
This procedure is employed if a reaction to an allergen is projected to be too severe for a skin test, but keep in mind that its results are not as exact as skin testing. A blood test determines the quantity of IgE antibodies in the blood following exposure to different allergens. When IgE levels rise in reaction to an allergen, the risk of an individual becoming allergic to that allergen rises.
Screening for rhinitis is advised, especially in asthmatic patients, because studies reveal that rhinitis affects up to 95% of asthma patients.12
How can you protect yourself from allergic rhinitis?
If you have allergic rhinitis, it is not always easy to avoid the substances to which you are allergic. However, there are steps you may do to try to alleviate your symptoms. As an example: 5
Protect your eyes from pollen by wearing protective sunglasses.
Wash your bedding on a regular basis at 60 degrees or higher.
Pets should be washed at least every two weeks, and they should be groomed often outside. You must also avoid their presence in the bedrooms.
Keep your house dry and well-ventilated, and deal with any moisture or condensation.
To clean surfaces, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and a damp cloth.
Allergic Rhinitis treatment
There are numerous more methods to lessen allergic rhinitis symptoms outside home remedies and avoidance, such as: 3
Antihistamines: which stop the body from making histamine.
Decongestants: can be used for a brief duration, often no more than three days, to reduce stuffy nose allergy symptoms.
Antihistamine nasal sprays: can provide temporary relief from itching and other allergy-related symptoms.
Nasal corticosteroid sprays: are frequently advised as a long-term, effective strategy to control allergy symptoms since they can aid with inflammation and immunological responses
Oral corticosteroids: prescribed by a doctor and preserved for treating severe hay fever symptoms. These can only be used for a short period of time due to its side effects. 4
What is the best treatment for allergic rhinitis?
All of the therapies indicated above may be beneficial in lowering the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, depending on the circumstances.
For example, TELFAST tablets 180mg or 120mg can be used as an antihistamine to treat hay fever symptoms including sneezing, runny and itchy nose, itchy eyes, and itchy throat. TELFAST is distinct in that it does not induce sleepiness, has a rapid onset, and can relieve symptoms for up to 24 hours.6
It is also available as a nasal spray (Naselfast Allergy Spray) for the prevention and treatment of hay fever symptoms such as a clogged or runny nose, sneezing, and itching. It is non-drowsy and can keep seasonal allergies at bay for up to 6 months.7
How to cure allergic rhinitis permanently?
Although there is no permanent treatment for allergic rhinitis, antihistamines and nasal sprays can help to ease symptoms. Immunotherapy, on the other hand, is a therapeutic option that has the potential to provide long-term relief. It can be given as injections or as sublingual tablets.8
As conclusion
Hay fever is a common respiratory condition caused by allergens. Contrary to popular belief, it is not required to have a fever or be sensitive to hay. It is, however, associated with additional symptoms such as a runny, itchy, and stuffy nose. There are several treatments to alleviate symptoms, but there is no permanent cure for allergic rhinitis.
1. https://aacijournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13223-018-0298-x last visited 7th December 2022
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8622-allergic-rhinitis-hay-fever last visited 7th December 2022
3. https://www.healthline.com/health/allergic-rhinitis last visited 7th december 2022
4. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160665 last visited 7th December 2022
5. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/allergic-rhinitis/ last visited 7th December 2022
6. https://telfast.com.au/products/telfast-180mg/ last visited 8th December 2022
7. https://telfast.com.au/products/telnasal-allergy-spray/ last visited 8th December 2022
8. https://ada.com/conditions/allergic-rhinitis/ , last visited 8th December 2022
9. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/noncommunicable-diseases-allergic-rhinitis-and-sinusitis last visited 8th December 2022
10. https://www.allergytampa.com/2019/01/18/the-difference-between-rhinitis-and-sinusitis/ last visited 11th December 2022
11. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/fever-with-allergies#is-it-possible last visited 11th December 2022
12. https://aacijournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13223-018-0280-7#Sec6 last visited 11th December 2022
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Get information about allergies and advice on relieving symptoms so you can live your greatness.
Allergies vs. Cold: Understand the Difference
There are some similarities between allergies and the common cold, so it can be difficult to figure out how to relieve your symptoms. But there are a few ways to identify which is which.
What is the relationship between allergic rhinitis and sinusitis?
It is known today that allergic rhinitis can go hand in hand with sinusitis and that it can even be a risk factor for the problem, as it tends to cause swelling in the nasal mucosa, favoring the accumulation of mucus, which facilitates the colonization of the sinuses by bacteria and viruses, characterizing sinusitis.
However, for this reason, people with an ongoing rhinitis condition with nasal congestion and accumulation of secretion may believe that they actually have sinusitis. But it often means they have an allergic rhinitis condition with nasal obstruction that was not treated properly and triggered more uncomfortable symptoms, such as headache and hearing difficulty.
Thus, ideally one should learn to identify how each disease manifests itself so as not to get confused. See below the differences between each of them and how the treatment is done.
Acute and chronic hives and skin allergies
Skin problems such as eczema (dry, red, itchy skin) and urticaria (also known as hives) often occur. Hives are white itchy bumps which look and feel like insect bites. Food may be a factor in some cases of hives and eczema.
What causes nasal congestion and how to treat it?
When nasal and adjacent tissues and blood vessels become swollen with excess fluid, causing a “stuffy” feeling, which may or may not include a runny nose where discharge accompanies the difficulty in breathing. This is annoyance for older children and adults as well. It can be serious for children at night if it disturbs their sleep or for infants who might have a hard time feeding as keeping their mouth shut is not easy.