ALLERGIC RHINITIS
An allergy is an overreaction of the body’s immune system to a typically harmless substance. when a person who is allergic to the substance encounters it, the body reacts by releasing chemicals which cause allergy symptoms. Nasal allergy symptoms can be triggered by substances such as pollen, mold, dust mite, animal dander and environmental irritants such as smog and climate factors.
SYMPTOMS
OF NASAL ALLERGIES MAY INCLUDE:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Itchy nose and eyes
- Pressure in the nose and cheeks
- Nasal congestion
- Post-nasal drip
- Ear fullness and popping
- Allergic shiners (dark circles under the eyes)
- The “allergic salute,” a line across the nasal bridge caused by an upward rubbing of the palm of the hand on the nose.
Person may have associated breathing issues.
TREATMENT
FOR NASAL ALLERGIES
It is common for patients not to seek treatment for their nasal allergies because they consider their symptoms to be an annoyance that they just have to tolerate.
Although there is no cure for nasal allergies, there are many safe and effective treatment options that can help manage nasal allergy symptoms. Each treatment has benefits and drawbacks.
AVOID ALLERGIES
- Reduce the amount of pollen and other allergens in your hair and
skin by showering before bedtime. - Limit pollen exposure on dry, windy days by keeping windows and doors shut.
- Reduce the amount of mold in the house by removing houseplants and frequently cleaning shower curtains, bathroom windows, damp walls and areas with dry rot and indoor trash cans. In addition, you
can reduce the amount of mold in the house by avoiding carpeting bathrooms or other damp rooms of the home and using mold-proof paint instead of wallpaper. - Cat or dog dander often collects in the house dust and takes 4 weeks or more to subside. Reduce the amounts of pet dander in the home
by using allergen-resistant bedding, bathing your pet frequently, and using an air filter. - Reduce dust and dust mites in the home by:
- Removing drapes, feather pillows, upholstered furniture, non-washable comforters and soft toys from the home.
- Replacing carpets with linoleum or wood and keeping the floors polished.
- Stay away from dusty places and use mask outdoors.
- Mopping the floors often with a damp mop and wiping surfaces with a damp cloth
- Vacuuming the carpet regularly with a machine that has a high-efficiency particulate air filter.
- Vacuuming upholstered furniture and curtains as well as floors.
- Installing an air cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate filter.
- Washing all bedding in hot water (hotter than 130°F) every 7 to 10 days.
MEDICAL TREATMENT
ANTIHISTAMINES
DECONGESTANTS
SALINE NASAL SPRAYS
INHALED NASAL STEROIDS
ALLERGY SHOTS
(IMMUNOTHERAPY)
Sublingual immunotherapy in the form of micro droplet can be taken
at home as per schedule given to you
The goal of allergy shots is to “train” the immune system over time to be better able to tolerate the allergens that trigger the symptoms. Allergy testing is used to help identify the specific allergens that are causing the reactions. Allergy shots contain small amounts of these allergens and are given on a regular schedule so that the body gets used to the allergens and no longer overreacts to them.