What is Allergic Rhinitis?
Allergy symptoms occur when the immune system in the body reacts to any foreign substance. Our immune system delivers antibodies to the location of the allergen and aims to protect our body in this way. This struggle between allergens and antibodies sent by the immune system causes the release of various chemicals into the blood; These chemicals released into the blood also cause allergic disease symptoms. Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever; It is defined as an allergic reaction that develops when the immune system overreacts to substances taken into the body through breathing. Allergic rhinitis (hay fever), whose incidence increases especially with the arrival of spring, affects more and more people every day.
What are the Types of Allergic Rhinitis?
There are two types of allergic rhinitis. We can list them as follows
Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis
Long-Term Allergic Rhinitis Occurring Throughout the Year
What are the symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis symptoms are similar to the common cold. However, while the main cause of the common cold is a virus, the cause of allergic rhinitis is not a virus. Although allergic rhinitis is a very common allergic reaction, seasonal allergic rhinitis is especially common in children and adolescents. Most patients suffering from allergic rhinitis experience symptoms before the age of 20. Symptoms that do not change in early adulthood begin to improve in middle age and later.
We can list the signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis, which causes many symptoms, as follows:
Sneeze,
nasal congestion,
runny nose,
Postnasal drip,
Itchy and watery eyes,
swelling of the eyelids,
Itching in the mouth, throat, ears and face
Sore throat
dry cough
Headache
Dark circles under the eyes
Facial pain or feeling of pressure
Partial loss of hearing, taste and smell
Fatigue and weakness
The severity of these symptoms varies from person to person. In addition, many people suffering from allergic rhinitis also suffer from asthma.
What are the Causes of Allergic Rhinitis?
The immune system, which is extremely prominent in fighting harmful substances such as viruses and bacteria; It can overreact to some substances such as pollen, animal dander, and mold, even if they are harmless. This reaction is called “allergic reaction”.
While seasonal allergic rhinitis is usually caused by tree, meadow and grass pollens flying in the air; Pollens in the region where you live stand out as the determining factor in the development and severity of the disease. This is why some people who move get rid of their complaints or their complaints increase. Finally, due to higher pollen amounts in dry and windy weather, seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms may increase.
Long-term (yearly) allergic rhinitis can be triggered by the following factors:
Dust and household items
cockroaches
Smoke
molds
Fog
What are the Risk Factors for Allergic Rhinitis?
There are some risk factors that trigger the allergic reaction called allergic rhinitis (hay fever). We can list these risk factors as follows:
Past history of allergies in family members.
The individual has food allergies or other allergies (such as eczema),
Exposure to cigarette smoke as a second-hand smoker.
Who Gets Allergic Rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis can occur in any age group and is most commonly seen in the 18-25 age group. It can also be seen in newborn babies and right after infancy. With the deterioration of environmental conditions, the possibility of allergic rhinitis has increased and the age limit has disappeared. Allergic rhinitis affects approximately 20% of children and adults today.
What are the Allergic Rhinitis Diagnosis Methods?
To diagnose allergic rhinitis, the doctor asks questions about your family members and personal allergy history. Because when it comes to allergic rhinitis, the condition of the patient and family members is extremely important. We can list some questions that can be asked at this stage as follows:
Is there a time period when symptoms are common? That is, do your complaints vary depending on a particular time of day or season?
Do you have a pet?
Have you made any changes in your diet and eating habits?
Do you use any medications?
After this stage, a physical examination may be performed and a skin test may be recommended to determine what you are allergic to. An example of these tests is the skin prick test, in which some allergens are applied to the skin in small amounts. This application is carried out with the help of a needle or scratch. If the individual has any allergies, the area where the test is performed will be swollen and red. In some cases, a blood test may be used to find out which allergic substances you react to.
What are the Allergic Rhinitis Treatment Methods?
If you suffer from allergic rhinitis and the triggers that cause allergic rhinitis have been identified by your doctor, the first step of treatment is to stay away from these triggers and take precautions. Apart from this, two methods stand out in the allergic rhinitis treatment process: drug therapy and vaccine therapy.
Allergic Rhinitis Drug Treatment
Antihistamines, cortisone sprays (corticosteroids) and saline can be used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. If there is severe nasal congestion, decongestants can be used for a short time at first. If there is too much discharge from the nose, ipratropium nasal sprays may be beneficial. It is also known that cortisone sprays are extremely effective in the treatment of nasal congestion caused by allergic reactions.
Medication is one of the most commonly used methods in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. However, the point that should not be forgotten here is that medications will only be effective on complaints as long as they are used. If drug treatment is stopped, allergy symptoms recur in a short time. Another point that should be taken into consideration is that the medications to be used must be under the control and knowledge of the doctor. Because some drugs used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis can cause serious side effects.
Allergic Rhinitis Vaccine Treatment
Vaccine therapy, which stands out as another method used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, is defined as a cause-oriented method. Before starting vaccine treatment, necessary allergy tests should be performed and the allergen or allergens that cause complaints in the individual should be identified. With vaccine treatment, substances that cause allergic symptoms are administered in increasing doses, thus aiming to provide immunity against the allergen that causes distress in the individual.
When it comes to vaccine treatment, injections are given once a week at first, and then once a month as soon as the maintenance dose is reached. Unlike drug treatment, vaccine treatment has a long-term effect on the individual’s complaints and continues its effect even after the treatment is terminated. In addition, research on this subject for a long time has suggested that the development of new allergens can be prevented with vaccine treatment.
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The information on this page varies from person to person.
Kenan Selçuk TUNCAY
Otolaryngologist