What Is Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)? What Are the Symptoms?

Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is a reaction that develops against allergens. Along with the body's developing reactions, the inside of the nose becomes inflamed and swollen. This condition brings with it various symptoms. Hay fever is a health problem that can negatively affect daily life. The condition can be improved, or its recurrence rate can be reduced, with drug treatments or various measures.

What Is Allergic Rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is an allergic disease with a very high frequency. It is a reaction that the body's immune system develops against a triggering allergen substance. It develops when triggered by outdoor allergens such as mold, various trees, grasses, herb pollens, etc. It is generally observed as a seasonal allergy. It can also develop unrelated to the seasons, triggered by animal hair and house dust found at home. Depending on the severity of the symptoms the patient shows, allergic rhinitis may be mild or moderate in severity.

What Are Its Types?

Allergic rhinitis generally develops at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. However, in some people, hay fever develops in every season of the year, depending on the triggering allergen. Accordingly, the types of allergic rhinitis are divided into two: seasonal and perennial.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis: In this type of hay fever, the immune system is generally triggered by mold spores in the air or by tree pollens. Pollens from grasses and wild herbs that develop seasonally also play a role in the development of hay fever.

Perennial: In perennial allergic rhinitis, the person may show allergy symptoms in every period of the year. Reactions develop due to dust mites, pet hair or dander, cockroaches, or mold. In some cases, hidden food allergies may also trigger perennial rhinitis.

Is Allergic Rhinitis Hereditary?

Allergic rhinitis is a disease that can be transmitted genetically. In individuals whose mother and father both have allergic rhinitis, the likelihood of developing the disease increases.

What Are the Symptoms?

The symptoms of allergic rhinitis are generally similar to those of the common cold. After people are exposed to triggers such as pollen, house dust, or animals, allergic rhinitis symptoms may develop. Symptoms that develop a few minutes after exposure can be listed as follows:

Sneezing

Nasal itching

Runny or stuffy nose

Itching, watering, or redness of the eyes

Cough

Itching inside the mouth

Relationship with Sinusitis

Allergic rhinitis and sinusitis are diseases that are linked to each other. Sinusitis is inflammation developing in the lining of the sinuses, which may be acute or chronic. Allergic rhinitis, on the other hand, causes nasal congestion. When the patient begins to show an allergic reaction, the inside of the nose becomes inflamed and swollen. For this reason, the rate of sinusitis seen together with allergic rhinitis is quite high.

How Is It Diagnosed?

During the examination carried out by a doctor, the doctor asks the patient various questions. After the patient's history is obtained, a clinical examination is performed. In this examination, it is evaluated whether the patient has a condition such as asthma or the common cold. If no disease is identified, blood samples are taken from the patient to detect specific allergens, and laboratory tests are performed. The diagnosis made can be confirmed with a test called the immunoglobulin E (IgE) test.

To determine what is causing allergic rhinitis, a skin prick test is performed. With this test, small allergen samples are placed on the forearm or back. Small needles are used to puncture the skin, allowing the allergens to enter beneath the surface of the skin. After 15 or 30 minutes, the small raised bumps that develop on the skin are observed, and what the patient is allergic to can be identified.

All the tests required for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis are available at Hisar Hospital Intercontinental.

What Are the Treatment Options?

Hay fever symptoms can be improved with various medications. As part of the treatment, antihistamine tablets, eye drops, nasal sprays, and, when necessary, injections are used. Antihistamine drugs prevent the person from developing an allergic reaction by blocking histamine, which causes the body to show an allergic reaction. Decongestants are used as nasal sprays. In this way, the congestion of the nose and sinuses is relieved. Corticosteroid-derived nasal sprays support the lessening of symptoms by reducing inflammation in the nose. Treatment planning is carried out according to the symptoms the person shows and the severity of the symptoms. An individual who regularly experiences hay fever can, under a doctor's supervision, apply similar treatments themselves during other allergy attacks, following the first treatment they receive.

For this disease, which can be improved and prevented from developing with drug treatments or various measures, support can be obtained from the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department of Hisar Hospital Intercontinental.

How Can Allergic Rhinitis Be Prevented?

Under today's conditions, allergic rhinitis is not a disease that can be completely cured. However, with various measures, symptoms can be made lighter, or the frequency of developing an allergic reaction can be reduced. In this context, it is recommended that people avoid touching their faces and rubbing their eyes and noses.

It is recommended to spend less time in open areas during spring, summer, and early autumn months, when pollen counts increase. Pillows and mattresses can be covered with dust mite covers. Bedding can be aired out regularly.

People who have an allergy to pets and who have a pet at home should keep their animals away from sofas or beds. By limiting the entry of pets into bedrooms, close contact with dander or hair is avoided. Washing hands after contact with pets is recommended.

Vacuum cleaners or special air purifying filters can be used to reduce the amount of allergens in the air. Allergic rhinitis is a disease that can cause various complications. It can trigger the development of nasal polyps and cause abnormal fluid sacs to develop in the sinuses and nasal passages. By preventing mucus from draining from the sinuses, it can lead to the development of sinusitis. It can trigger the development of middle ear infection. These types of problems can generally be treated with medication, but if the complications are serious or long-lasting, more advanced interventions may be required. Allergic rhinitis and asthma usually occur together. Allergens such as pollen or dust mites can trigger hay fever symptoms as well as cause asthma signs and symptoms. Asthma that develops in such cases is called allergic asthma. Allergic rhinitis is generally a hereditary disease. People whose parents have allergic rhinitis are likely to show similar allergic reactions. Hay fever transmitted genetically usually appears from childhood onward. Studies show that people with skin allergies or asthma are also more likely to develop allergic rhinitis. The first step to getting over allergic rhinitis as quickly as possible is avoiding the element that triggers the allergy. In addition, if the person's health condition is suitable, they should use antihistamine drugs. Airways are opened with a nasal spray, which relieves symptoms. Air conditioning units can spread bacteria and viruses in the air, as well as substances that can have an allergic effect. This situation can lead to the triggering of allergic rhinitis, causing people to show various symptoms.

Although allergic rhinitis is not permanently cured, its symptoms can be relieved or its frequency reduced through various measures or treatments. You can access the right interventions for allergic rhinitis by applying to Hisar Hospital Intercontinental.