A Member of the University of Maryland Medical System | In Partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine
Email
Print
Home > Medical Reference > Patient Education
Allergic rhinitis - Introduction
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Prognosis
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Medications
- Immunotherapy
- Lifestyle Changes
Description
An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of common nasal allergies.Alternative Names
Hay fever; Nasal congestion - allergies
Introduction:
The nose is separated into two passages by a wall of cartilage called the septum. The nasal passages are lined with a membrane that produces a clear liquid called mucus. Mucus is a one of the body's defense systems:
- Moisture from the mucus conditions the air before it reaches the lungs.
- The mucus traps small particles and bacteria, which may enter the nose as a person breathes.
- The trapped bacteria usually do not cause harm in healthy individuals.
- When one side of the nose is congested, air passes through the open (decongested) side. The sides alternate between being wide-open and partly or completely blocked.
Rhinitis
If the congestion becomes severe or other changes occur that irritate the nasal passage, rhinitis develops. Rhinitis is inflammation of the nasal passages. To be diagnosed with rhinitis, the patient must experience at least two of the following symptoms for an hour or more on most days:
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Nasal itching
- Sneezing
Allergic rhinitis
Click the icon to see an image showing symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
These symptoms may occur as a result of colds or environmental irritants, such as allergens, cigarette smoke, chemicals, changes in temperature, stress, exercise, or other factors.
Infectious Rhinitis. If symptoms last fewer than 6 weeks, the condition is referred to as acute rhinitis and is usually caused by a cold or infection, or temporary overexposure to environmental chemicals or pollutants. [For more information, see In-Depth Report #94: Colds and the flu.]
Chronic Rhinitis. When rhinitis lasts for a longer period, the condition is called chronic rhinitis. Allergies are often the cause, but structural problems or chronic infections could also be to blame.
Allergic Rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is rhinitis caused by allergens, which are substances that trigger an allergic response. Allergens involved in allergic rhinitis come from either outdoor or indoor substances. Outdoor allergens such as pollen or mold spores are usually the cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis (also called hay fever). Indoor allergens such as animal dander or dust mites are common causes of year-round allergic rhinitis.
Resources
- www.aaaai.org -- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
- www.acaai.org -- American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
- www.niaid.nih.gov -- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- www.njc.org -- National Jewish Medical and Research Center
- www.lungusa.org -- The American Lung Association
References
Al Sayyad JJ, Fedorowicz Z, Alhashimi D, Jamal A. Topical nasal steroids for intermittent and persistent allergic rhinitis in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jan 24;(1):CD003163.
Bahls C. In the clinic. Allergic rhinitis. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Apr 3;146(7):ITC4-1-ITC4-16.
Blaiss MS. Safety considerations of intranasal corticosteroids for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2007 Mar-Apr;28(2):145-52.
Calderon MA, Alves B, Jacobson M, Hurwitz B, Sheikh A, Durham S. Allergen injection immunotherapy for seasonal allergic rhinitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jan 24;(1):CD001936.
Esch RE. Sublingual immunotherapy. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008 Jun;16(3):260-4.
Frew AJ. Sublingual immunotherapy. N Engl J Med. 2008 May 22;358(21):2259-64.
Greer FR, Sicherer SH, Burks AW; American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition; American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Allergy and Immunology. Effects of early nutritional interventions on the development of atopic disease in infants and children: the role of maternal dietary restriction, breastfeeding, timing of introduction of complementary foods, and hydrolyzed formulas. Pediatrics. 2008 Jan;121(1):183-91.
Saleh HA, Durham SR. Perennial rhinitis. BMJ. 2007 Sep 8;335(7618):502-7.
Scow DT, Luttermoser GK, Dickerson KS. Leukotriene inhibitors in the treatment of allergy and asthma. Am Fam Physician. 2007 Jan 1;75(1):65-70.
Sheikh A, Hurwitz B, Shehata Y. House dust mite avoidance measures for perennial allergic rhinitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jan 24;(1):CD001563.
Smits WL, Giese JK, Letz KL, Inglefield JT, Schlie AR. Safety of rush immunotherapy using a modified schedule: a cumulative experience of 893 patients receiving multiple aeroallergens. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2007 May-Jun;28(3):305-12.
Vliagoftis H, Kouranos VD, Betsi GI, Falagas ME. Probiotics for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma: systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008 Dec;101(6):570-9.
Wallace DV, Dykewicz MS, Bernstein DI, Blessing-Moore J, Cox L, Khan DA, et al. The diagnosis and management of rhinitis: an updated practice parameter. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008 Aug;122(2 Suppl):S1-84.
- Reviewed last on: 6/1/2009
- Harvey Simon, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).
Click to Print
Print Preview
© 2011 University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). All rights reserved.
UMMC is a member of the University of Maryland Medical System,
22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. TDD: 1-800-735-2258 or 1.866.408.6885
