Allergic rhinitis in adults

Allergic rhinitis occurs as a result of allergens entering the nasal mucosa, provoking an acute inflammatory reaction.

Manifestations may have a clear seasonality or occur all year round, as they come into contact with the irritant.

What is allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is an acute or chronic inflammatory reaction of the mucous membranes of the nose, which occurs in response to the ingress of allergens carried through the air (less commonly, through the digestive tract or other routes).

The disease is extremely common, according to various sources, it affects from 8 to 15% of the world’s population. Children and young people under the age of 20-25 suffer more often, with age, the manifestations decrease somewhat, but the disease usually does not completely disappear.

What you need to know about allergic rhinitis

Causes of allergic rhinitis in adults

The most basic reason for the development of seasonal rhinitis is contact with the pollen of wind-pollinated plants: trees, as well as cereals, haze and composite grasses. In some patients, this type of rhinitis is provoked by mold spores.

It is wrong to assume that seasonal rhinitis is provoked by poplar fluff. The fluff itself is hypoallergenic and does not have the ability to provoke allergies, but a lot of pollen grains usually stick to the surface of the fluffs, and reactions develop precisely on it.

The period of development of manifestations in seasonal rhinitis determines the type of plant and weather conditions that affect the flowering of trees or grasses.

Year-round rhinitis is usually provoked by household allergens – this is the epidermis of animals, household dust (more precisely, mites of this dust), mold spores, and various chemicals in the air.

Risk groups for allergic rhinitis

Most often, allergic rhinitis is expected in patients with an unfavorable family heredity (predisposition to such reactions). Such people in the family have relatives with hay fever, allergic rhinitis, eczema, dermatitis, bronchial asthma, neurodermatitis or urticaria.

In addition, children and adolescents living in cities are more likely to get sick.

Forms of allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is divided into two types:

• seasonal – hay fever or pollen allergy during flowering;
• year-round – with allergies to dust, animals, etc.

The mechanism of development of allergic rhinitis

Upon contact with allergens, an immunopathological reaction occurs, proceeding according to the first type. With it, high amounts of special class E immunoglobulins (reagins) are synthesized, which are fixed on mast cells and basophils. At the first meeting with the allergen, no reactions occur, but any repeated contact with it provokes the activation of cells, the release of a large number of allergy mediators, the leading of which is histamine.

Due to it, tissue swelling, thickening of the mucous membranes, vasodilation occurs, which leads to increased mucus production, nasal congestion, and difficulty breathing.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis in adults

Typical symptoms of allergic rhinitis in adults include watery nasal discharge, repeated sneezing, nasal congestion, conjunctival redness, and itching in the nose, palate, or throat. Itching of the skin, rash can join. If allergens come into contact with the mucous membrane of the eye, conjunctivitis may develop. This disease manifests itself in the form of redness of the eyes, itching, lacrimation.

Symptoms of rhinitis can be manifested by contact with an allergen, for example, plant pollen, or are recorded all year round, for example, in patients who are sensitive to house dust mites.

Allergic rhinitis approximately 3-8 times increases the risk of developing bronchial asthma and aggravates its course.

Symptoms usually unrelated to allergic rhinitis include unilateral symptoms, nasal congestion without other accompanying symptoms, purulent discharge, purulent discharge down the back of the throat, epistaxis, loss of smell.

Treatment of allergic rhinitis in adults

Treatment of allergic rhinitis can take place at home, but under the supervision of an allergist. It is important to correctly identify the cause of the allergy and eliminate contact with the allergen. In the future, it is necessary to avoid contact with the allergen in order not to provoke the disease.

Medical preparations

Drug therapy for allergic rhinitis includes the following groups of drugs.

• Nasal glucocorticosteroids – hormonal drugs that help relieve swelling of the nose – Nasonex, Avamys, Nasobek, etc. 1-2 injections per day.
• Antihistamines are prescribed in the presence of concomitant symptoms: itchy nose, rash, redness of the eyes and watery eyes. Usually, 2nd generation antihistamines are used. These drugs include Cetrin, Erius, Claritin, Suprastinex, Telfast, etc.

• Nasal antihistamines (nose drops) – Allergodil, Tizin, etc. They also help relieve itching in the nose and relieve swelling.

• Antihistamines (eye drops) – Allergodil, Emadin, etc.
• Cromones – drugs of this class are instilled into the eyes for eye symptoms. However, they are weaker than glucocorticosteroids and antihistamines.
• Vasoconstrictor drugs (nasal drops) – these drugs restore help relieve swelling in the nose with allergies and get rid of congestion. These include Phenylephedrine, Phenylephrine, Naphazoline, etc. However, these drugs should not be taken for longer than 5 days. Most of them are contraindicated during pregnancy.

Folk remedies

With allergic rhinitis, it is better not to use folk remedies. Any recipes can lead to complications and deterioration, increased allergic manifestations against the background of cross-reactions.

Prevention of allergic rhinitis at home

The main method of preventing allergic rhinitis is to avoid contact with allergens. To do this, in the spring-summer flowering season, you need to spend less time outdoors in proximity to allergens. Do a thorough wet cleaning of the house, get rid of carpets, check for tolerance before using a new cosmetic product.

Popular questions and answers

We talked about whether allergic rhinitis is life-threatening, whether it can turn into more severe forms, whether it threatens health, whether it can lead to disability, social isolation, what are the most alarming signs, with which to go to the doctor and whether rhinitis can be treated folk medicine with otorhinolaryngologist Mikhail Lobzov.