Allergies Health Guide

All About Allergy

Rhinitis

What is rhinitis?

Rhinitis is a reaction that occurs in the eyes, nose and throat when airborne irritants (allergens) trigger the release of histamine. Histamine causes inflammation and fluid production in the fragile linings of nasal passages, sinuses, and eyelids.

What are the types of rhinitis?

The two categories of rhinitis are:

allergic rhinitis
There are two types of allergic rhinitis:

seasonal - occurs particularly during pollen seasons
perennial - occurs throughout the year

The most-common causes of allergic rhinitis are:

pollen
dust mites
mold
animal dander

Reactions from allergic rhinitis include:

sneezing
congestion
runny nose
itchy nose, throat, eyes, and ears

Preventive measures for avoiding allergic rhinitis include:

environmental controls, such as air conditioning, during pollen season
avoiding areas where there is heavy dust, mites, molds
avoiding pets

Treatments for allergic rhinitis, as determined by your physician and based on your condition, may include:

oral medications
inhaled medications
immunotherapy
allergy injections

nonallergic rhinitis

Types of nonallergic rhinitis are:

vasomotor rhinitis (irritant rhinitis)
eosinophilic
rhinitis medicamentosa
neutrophilic rhinosinusitis
structural rhinitis
nasal polyps
primary vasomotor instability

Causes of nonallergic rhinitis include:

fumes
odors
temperature
atmospheric changes
smoke
other irritants

Reactions from nonallergic rhinitis include:

sneezing
congestion
runny nose
itchy nose, throat, eyes, and ears

The preventive measure for avoiding nonallergic rhinitis is avoiding the primary cause.

Treatments for nonallergic rhinitis, as determined by your physician and based on your condition, may include:

oral medications
inhaled medications
immunotherapy
allergy injections
surgery for some conditions

This page was last updated on: February 6, 2008.

For patient inquiries, call 1-800-492-5538 or click here to make an appointment.