Allergic Rhinitis: Symptoms And Treatment

Allergic rhinitis is a chronic disease that occurs because a person has a series of reactions in the nasal mucosa when they are exposed to certain external factors.  This causes nasal hyperactivity that affects both the eyes and the nose, and then leads to symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

These reactions are caused by the body’s main defense mechanism and are designed to fight IgE antibodies. They are also known medically as immunoglobulin E, and IgE antibodies stimulate the secretion of chemical mediators in cells. They tend to have certain antigens that balance inflammation.

Allergic rhinitis – symptoms

The symptoms of this disease can vary from person to person. allergic

• fatigue during the day
• headache
• nasal congestion
• changes in sleep
• itching of the nose and throat
• runny nose
• constant sneezing
• allergic symptoms (eye bags, Dennie lines, nasal furrows)
• symptoms of conjunctivitis (red eyes, bleeding and itchy eyes)
• indifferent expression, absent gaze, mouth half open, mouth breathing
• pale nasal mucus or congestive hyaline mucus (transparent and liquid)

Factors associated with the development of allergic rhinitis

There are many things associated with the onset of allergic rhinitis. These include, but are not limited to:

• hereditary predisposition to the disease
• emergence in the risk area
• early exposure to allergens
• too much use of antibiotics in childhood
• family history of atopy (allergic disorders)
• exposure to harmful environmental factors (tobacco, dust mites and animal fur)

Types of allergic rhinitis

There are two types of allergic rhinitis: seasonal and continuous.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis

This accounts for about 75% of cases of allergic rhinitis. It is usually found between winter and spring (in the northern countries), as the plants are pollinated during this time.

Common symptoms of this type of allergy include the following: severe itching in the ears, eyes, and throat. This can become more intense during continuous exposure to the outdoors, and especially during the hours of pollination (five to ten in the morning, and then again from seven to ten in the evening), and can increase on wet and rainy days.

Persistent allergic rhinitis

The rhinitis of this species is mainly due to the influence of factors such as dust, fungal spores (Alternia and Cladosporium) and skin particles from animals (cats, dogs and rodents).

The symptoms of this type of allergic rhinitis may appear similar to those of seasonal allergic rhinitis, but there is less itching in the ears and more watery with nasal congestion. As a result, the patient must breathe through the mouth, the sound sounds “funny” when speaking, and the sense of smell and taste leaves. In addition, there are other symptoms that are easier to identify.

Continuous allergens

There are a large number of allergens, but the most common are generally the following:

• pollen
• enzymes
• food
• medicines
• materials (latex, etc.)
• animal epithelium (hair, urine and saliva)
• fungal spores ( Penicillium, Cladosporium, Alternaria and Aspergillus )
• mites ( Dermatophagoides pteronysinus, Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides microceras )

How is allergic rhinitis treated?

The treatment for such a runny nose usually consists of combining medications and environmental measures to control allergic reactions as well as eliminate allergens.

Management of environmental factors

This treatment involves a number of things that should usually be started before taking the medication. In this way, the patient can create an environment for himself that makes recovery easier.

When controlling allergic rhinitis through the environment, the following corrections are usually made:

• avoiding large changes in temperature
• keeping windows closed at night
• rinsing of nasal passages with sterile saline
• keeping your diet balanced by avoiding allergens as well as drinking water
• reduction of time spent outdoors (during pollination times, windy days and peak periods of allergens)

• using air conditioning with a filter both at home and in the car
• avoiding irritating chemicals such as tobacco and chlorine
• exercises that promote narrowing of blood vessels through contraction of muscle fibers (vasoconstriction)
• for example, masks can be used to limit contact with allergens, or nasal strips to reduce nasal congestion

Medication for allergic rhinitis

Currently, there is a large selection of medications to help control the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. These include the following products: anti-clogging agents, antihistamines, chromones, and topical nasal congestion reducers.

Antihistamines

These are recommended for the control of itching, sneezing and runny nose. However, their ability to reduce nasal congestion and the symptoms of allergic rhinitis is limited. The oral medications that are most useful for this purpose are Cetirizine and Loratadine.

It should be remembered that first-generation antihistamines can cause side effects such as drowsiness and impaired ability. And when it comes to second-generation antihistamines, they have no side effects, and you get help for your condition almost immediately, but their effect lasts only a short time.

Relievers of congestion in the treatment of allergic rhinitis

These are long-acting medications and do not cause local irritation or return of congestion. However, they have side effects and include drowsiness, dizziness, anxiety, and decreased urinary retention. They can also cause an increase in blood pressure.

If you use local nasal congestion relievers for longer than two or three days, the effectiveness of the medication will decrease, resulting in a return of the problem and, in addition, an exacerbation of chronic rhinitis. Therefore, oral congestion relievers should be used.

Intranasal corticoids

These medications are effective when you want to reduce the symptoms of a runny nose: nasal congestion and bleeding, itching and sneezing, especially in both types of allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis.

Nasal corticoids become rapidly metabolized and have a long duration of action. However, caution should be exercised with their use, as these drugs have significant side effects when taken for extended periods of time. These include growth failure, behavioral disorders, and hypothalamic axis suppression.

The most recommended intranasal corticoids include:

• Flunisolide
• Mometasone furoate
• Fluticasone propionate
• Beclomethasone dipriopionate

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy consists of the gradual administration of extracts from specific allergens according to the patient’s condition. This creates tolerance to that allergen.

This is the most important way to treat allergic rhinitis as it is very effective. In many countries, however, the only way to implement this treatment is to do it subcutaneously. Therefore, the patient needs to consider factors such as frequency of injections, duration of treatment, risks, and self-desire to continue treatment.