Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is inflammation of the inside of the nose caused by an allergen, such as pollen, dust, mould or flakes of skin from certain animals.

It’s a very common condition, estimated to affect around 1 in every 5 people in the UK.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis typically causes cold-like symptoms, such as sneezing, itchiness and a blocked or runny nose. These symptoms usually start soon after being exposed to an allergen.

Some people only get allergic rhinitis for a few months at a time because they’re sensitive to seasonal allergens, such as tree or grass pollen. Other people get allergic rhinitis all year round. Most people with allergic rhinitis have mild symptoms that can be easily and effectively treated.

But for some people symptoms can be severe and persistent, causing sleep problems and interfering with everyday life. The symptoms of allergic rhinitis occasionally improve with time, but this can take many years and it’s unlikely that the condition will disappear completely.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis is also known as hay fever and is caused by allergies to various types of pollen, but sufferers can also experience perennial allergic rhinitis, which is caused by allergies to things like house dust mites, chemicals, food and animal hair.

Many sufferers may have associated evidence of sensitivity such as asthma, eczema, allergic dermatitis and drug allergies.

Diagnosis

Your consultant will take a comprehensive history to establish the severity of disease and the best course of investigation and initial treatment. If allergy is suspected, then a blood test or skin prick allergy test may be performed.

Treatment

Options for treatment include:

1. Allergen avoidance measures
   Total eradication of the allergen is usually not possible, but measures to reduce the allergen in the local environment should be encouraged. The measures used / recommended will differ depending on the nature of the allergen.
2. Drug treatment
   Patients need drugs for allergic rhinitis if avoiding the allergen is impossible or fails to control the symptoms.
   Decongestants simply relieve symptoms; your consultant is likely to prescribe topical or systemic medication to block the effects of the allergens.
3. Desensitisation
   Desensitisation is now a way of treating those with severe symptoms that have not responded to conventional treatment. Not all patients are suitable for this treatment but your specialist will be able to advise.