Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation in the nasal mucosa that manifests with signs such as nasal mucus, sneezing, nasal itching, congestion…
The signs and symptoms of rhinitis last at least two days in a row and its effects last for more than one hour. The reaction is usually immediate upon exposure to an allergen that causes the allergy.
What is the difference between allergic rhinitis and the common cold?
In cases of allergic rhinitis, the mucus is transparent and comes out continuously, dripping. The amount may vary during the day and its duration is longer. In the case of a cold, it is an infection accompanied by fever with symptoms that last all day long, usually lasting a week, and the mucus is thicker and colored.
Causes of rhinitis
The most common allergens causing rhinitis and asthma are:
- Dust mites and pets
- Pollens and fungi
- Occupational allergens
Another of the most common causes of rhinitis is infectious rhinitis, also known as rhinosinusitis. In this case, an inflammation affecting the nasal mucosa and paranasal sinuses occurs. It can be bacterial or viral in origin, and depending on how long the symptoms last it can be acute or chronic.
Other causes are:
- Work-related
- Produced by the effect of anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Hormonal rhinitis
- Rhinitis caused by food
- Tobacco smoke
- Rhinitis due to sudden temperature changes
- Humidity
- Strong odors
In turn, it is worth mentioning the effect of pollution on rhinitis, increasing the symptoms on the days when there is more pollution. Pollution from motor vehicles also favors the development of pollen rhinitis.
Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis
To make the diagnosis of the disease, the patient’s clinical history and allergic symptoms are analyzed and contrasted with diagnostic skin tests.
A positive result without an associated clinical picture is not useful, since symptoms can occur without a positive result.
When there are doubts about the result of a nasal rhinitis skin test, a conjunctival or nasal challenge test can be performed, which is based on applying the allergen to the nose or eye to reproduce the symptoms in the patient.
Treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis
Drug treatment should be adapted to the patient’s needs and symptoms according to their severity.
Antihistamines are used to reduce signs and symptoms, such as mucus or nasal itching, although they do not cure the disease. For this reason, they are taken according to the allergic signs.
Topical inhalation corticosteroids are also commonly used and are indicated in allergic rhinitis, sinusitis and polyposis. They are effective in reducing congestion as well as itching, sneezing and secretions. Their effect takes effect within a few hours, but the optimal result is obtained after several days or weeks of consecutive treatment.
There are also other nasal decongestant treatments that can cause rhinitis medicamentosa.
In addition, there are vaccines to control the symptoms (immunotherapy), which is currently the only specific treatment to treat the cause of the allergy and change its evolution.
A patient with untreated allergic rhinitis will be more likely to develop asthma, although in the opposite case, patients with allergic rhinitis who are treated with vaccines do not develop allergic asthma.