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Allergic rhinitis is a genetic condition, passed from parents to children, in which the mucosa of the nose is more sensitive and becomes inflamed when coming into contact with some substances, causing an allergic reaction that causes the appearance of symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose and itchy nose.
Generally, the allergic rhinitis crisis happens after the person comes into contact with allergenic substances such as dust, dog hair, pollen or some plants, for example, and can be more frequent during the spring or autumn.
Allergic rhinitis has no cure and therefore treatment includes changing habits such as avoiding contact with substances that cause symptoms to appear, in milder cases, and the use of antihistamine remedies for those who have recurrent attacks.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of allergic rhinitis include:
- Itchy nose, eyes and mouth;
- Red eyes and nose;
- Excessive tiredness;
- Headache;
- Swollen eyes;
- Dry cough;
- Sneezing;
- Runny nose.
When these symptoms appear it is important to consult a general practitioner or allergist to initiate the appropriate treatment according to the allergen that causes the symptoms, to avoid complications such as ear infections, sleep problems or the development of chronic sinusitis. Understand what causes allergic rhinitis.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is made through the patient's report to the general practitioner, who will guide him to the appropriate treatment.
However, in severe cases, that is, when the allergic reaction disrupts the person's life, with long bouts of sneezing that can generate recurring headache or weakness, for example, the general practitioner may refer the case to an allergist, doctor allergy specialist, who through laboratory tests, will identify which substances are responsible for causing allergic rhinitis.
One of the exams that can be done is the skin test of immediate reading, in which the person is exposed to small amounts of allergic substances on the skin, which can be on the arm or back, which became red and irritated if that is one of the substances that cause irritation. See how the allergy test is done.
Another test that can be done is the radioallergosorbent test (RAST), a type of blood test that measures the amount of antibodies called IgE, which are high when the person has an allergic reaction.
How the treatment is done
The treatment of allergic rhinitis should be guided by a general practitioner or allergist, and it is usually done with the removal of allergic substances in mild and moderate cases. In the most severe cases, it may be necessary to use antihistamine remedies, such as desloratadine or cetirizine, to reduce allergy and reduce the symptoms of rhinitis. Check out other remedies to relieve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
Natural treatment option
Allergic rhinitis, in times of crisis, when symptoms are strongest, can be relieved by home remedies, such as nasal washing with saline or with 300 ml of mineral water and 1 teaspoon of salt. To do this, just inhale a little of this mixture, give a small massage on the nose and then spit it out.
In addition, breathing in the steam of eucalyptus tea before bedtime can also prevent symptoms from appearing the next day. See other 5 natural ways to reduce the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.