Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms

When pollen, pet dander, perfumes or other environmental irritants are inhaled, it's common to develop allergic rhinitis--also known as "hay fever" or "pollinosis." Depending on the allergen, allergic rhinitis may occur seasonally or year-round. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to achieve symptom relief and ward off future allergy episodes.

Causes

• Allergic rhinitis is caused by the body's overreaction to particular substances. Common allergy triggers include pollens, pet dander, dust mites and mold. Allergic rhinitis sufferers are typically sensitive to multiple triggers. When your body is exposed to an offending allergen, antibodies are produced to fight off the intruder. These antibodies signal your body to release histamine--a chemical that causes sneezing, itchy eyes, coughing and runny nose.

  While people don't inherit specific allergies from their parents, it's believed that children inherit the tendency to develop allergic rhinitis. You may also acquire allergies if you're exposed to particular allergens when your body's immune system is weak. This may occur after you've been ill, or when your body is overly tired.

Mild Symptoms

• Most people are mildly symptomatic when exposed to allergy triggers. Mild symptoms are generally local, and include sinus congestion, watery eyes, hoarseness, rashes, repetitive sneezing, post-nasal drip and overall fatigue. Most mild allergy symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter drugs, but your physician may prescribe stronger antihistamines, decongestants, nasal steroids or eye drops to make your discomfort more bearable.

Severe Symptoms

• For some, allergies can be serious or even life-threatening. A local rash may begin spreading to other body parts, or mild wheezing symptoms may turn into severe respiratory distress. The most severe allergic response is anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening condition that causes a full body reaction to an allergen. When a patient goes into anaphylaxis, they may experience serious breathing problems, throat swelling, diarrhea and vomiting, abdominal cramping, dizziness and disorientation.

Treatment

• If you're aware of specific substances that trigger your allergic rhinitis reaction, the best thing to do is avoid them. This may mean staying indoors during high-pollen times, removing a pet from your home or wearing a respirator when you dust your house. However, when it's not possible to avoid allergy triggers, there are a number of other management solutions. Mild hay fever symptoms can be treated effectively with over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays and eye drops.

  If your allergic rhinitis is more severe, you may be a candidate for immunotherapy shots. During immunotherapy, increasingly larger allergen doses are injected into your blood stream. Over time, you become immune to these allergens, decreasing your symptomatic response. Allergy shots are usually administered over a one- to three-year period, depending on the severity of the trigger and the number of allergens that need to be addressed.

Warnings

• Most allergy sufferers deal with mild symptoms that are easily managed with immunotherapy or occasional medications. If you begin experiencing intense itching, breathing difficulties or ear pain, however, it's important to see your health practitioner. If left untreated, allergic rhinitis can cause middle ear infections, sinus infections, intense coughing or voice changes. At worst, it can cause headaches, sleep problems and severe apnea.