Allergic rhinitis, also known as allergic rhinitis, is one of the common nasal diseases in children, mostly occurring between the ages of 10 and 14 years, but there are many cases before the age of 5.
I. Perennial allergic rhinitis The commonly called allergic rhinitis refers to this kind. It occurs at any age, with adolescents being the most common. The causes of this disease are mostly inhalants, including dust, feathers, mold, smoke, soap, chemical powder, as well as cool air and automobile exhaust. In pediatric patients, food allergies are more common, such as milk, chocolate, eggs, fish and shrimp, and bacterial allergies.
The pathological changes of the disease are edema of the nasal mucosa, increased secretory glands and enhanced secretory activity. In severe cases of nasal mucosal edema, polyps can be formed.
The main symptoms are persistent or intermittent nasal congestion, nasal itching with paroxysmal continuous sneezing, mucous or syrupy nasal discharge and loss of smell. Because of nasal itching and nasal congestion, children often blow their noses, aspirate, wrinkle their noses or rub their noses with their hands and other special manifestations, which become “allergic greetings”. Runny nose may be the only symptom of pediatric allergic rhinitis, but it may be mucopurulent if there is infection. Loss of smell is often partial and occurs mostly in the late stages. This can be complicated by bronchial asthma if left untreated for a long time.
The sudden onset and rapid fading of the above symptoms, followed by recurrence with variable intervals, are symptomatic features of the history of the disease.
This disease should be distinguished from upper respiratory tract infection, which has a history of cold and infection, and has a certain course from cold, runny nose to fever and runny nose, etc. It is often accompanied by red throat and sore throat.
Treatment of this disease is mainly to eat medicine and nose spray, if the nose structure problems such as: nasal septum deviation, nasal turbinate hypertrophy, nasal polyps, resulting in nasal congestion can do surgery to solve the problem of nasal congestion.
Second, seasonal allergic rhinitis This disease develops with different seasons, such as flowering season, dry grass season, mostly pollen allergy.
The symptoms of this disease are the same as those of perennial allergic rhinitis, often heavier, and in addition to nasal symptoms, it is accompanied by itchy throat and cough, and about 1/4 patients have asthma. There are also eye symptoms such as eye itching, tearing, and foreign body sensation.
The treatment of this disease is specific treatment during the season, plus antihistamines, eye drops of 0.5% cortisone acetate suspension or 0.1% epinephrine hydrochloride are available for those with eye symptoms, and bronchial antispasmodics are available for those with asthma.