Nasal Allergy Symptoms

If you have nasal allergies, your symptoms may include a stuffy, running or itchy nose, sneezing, irritated and watering eyes, and coughing from post-nasal drip. You may also have dark circles under your eyes, called allergic shiners. Nasal allergies, also called allergic rhinitis, are most likely to develop in childhood. Some people refer to it as hay fever, though the symptoms are the same. While a cold may mimic some allergy symptoms, the underlying cause is different.

Stuffy, Runny Nose

• Your nose may feel congested. At the same time, it may also run. This happens when allergies inflame your sinus membranes.

Sneezing

• Sneezing is a common symptom of allergies. You may sneeze moderately or almost continuously if you are having an allergy attack.

Itchy Nose

• Perhaps the most common symptom, an itchy nose can be quite irritating. Rubbing your nose frequently may result in soreness as well.

Irritated, Watery Eyes

• With allergies, your eyes may itch and water. They can also swell up and the lids may become inflamed, a condition called allergic conjunctivitis. This happens when allergens are in direct contact with the area around your eyes.

Coughing

• Coughing in allergy sufferers is caused by mucus in the back of the throat, called post-nasal drip. Coughs may sound more like throat-clearing rather than a deep cough.

Allergic Shiners

• The area under the eyes becomes darker in people with allergies because of the inflamed blood vessels near the sinuses. This is called "allergic shiners" according to discoveryhealth.com (see Resources).