I. What is allergic rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis is the medical term for allergic rhinitis. It is a nasal inflammatory disease caused by atopic individuals (commonly known as allergic individuals) after exposure to allergens and can cause a variety of complications such as asthma, conjunctivitis, sinusitis, nasal polyps, etc. The incidence of allergic rhinitis has been on the rise in recent years, and it is estimated that there are 140 million potential allergic rhinitis patients in China.
Second, what are the allergens that cause allergic rhinitis?
The main ones are inhalation, such as dust mites, pollen, ragweed, mold, animal fur, etc. When an allergic person comes into contact with these allergens, a series of reactions occur in the body and the main symptoms are runny nose, nasal congestion, nasal itching and sneezing.
How to distinguish allergic rhinitis from cold?
It can be distinguished from the following four aspects.
1. Do you have a fever?
Fever can appear at the same time as a cold; allergic rhinitis: it does not trigger a fever.
2. Do your symptoms last for more than 7-10 days?
Usually not more than 7-10 days; allergic rhinitis: symptoms can last for weeks or months.
3.Are your eyes and nose itchy?
Cold: no such symptoms; allergic rhinitis: such symptoms.
4.Are your nasal symptoms seasonal?
No seasonality; allergic rhinitis: symptoms appear at the same time every year.
4. How to confirm the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis?
First, the ENT specialist should ask the patient about the onset in detail, then a nasal examination should be performed, allergen tests (skin prick test and serum specific IgE test) should be done, etc., and non-allergic rhinitis such as colds and vasodilatory rhinitis should be differentiated to make the final diagnosis.
What types of allergic rhinitis are included.
Clinically, allergic rhinitis is divided into two types: intermittent and persistent.
Traditionally, it is divided into seasonal and perennial types.
V. How is allergic rhinitis treated?
The treatment of allergic rhinitis consists of four parts: allergen avoidance, drug therapy, immunotherapy and health education.
How to avoid contact with allergens?
Keep your home clean, ventilate the room frequently; don’t put stuffed toys; don’t smoke or let children inhale smoke; don’t go out during pollen season; don’t keep pets such as dogs, cats, birds, etc.
How to relieve symptoms through medication?
Some nasal decongestants such as ephedrine and nasal drops can effectively relieve nasal congestion in the short term, but long-term application can cause drug rhinitis and should be used with caution.
Nasal corticosteroids such as rhinocort, coleus, endosulfan and antihistamines (H1 receptor antagonists) such as loratadine and cetirizine are the first-line drugs for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and can effectively relieve the symptoms. For perennial allergic rhinitis medication should be applied for a long time nasal corticosteroids have no dependence or side effects.
VIII. What is immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy (desensitization) is to give allergic patients gradually increasing doses of allergen extracts to normalize their immune system and gradually “adapt” to external allergens, thus avoiding the appearance of allergic symptoms. Subcutaneous desensitization injections such as Advil or sublingual desensitization such as Chandi are available. Immunotherapy can be used for patients who do not respond well to medication and whose symptoms persist. This is the only treatment that can change the natural course of allergic rhinitis, or what people call “root treatment”, but the treatment period is long, usually two to three years.