Every spring, people will go to the park and the countryside to enjoy the flowers, but some people are like suffering from a cold, sneezing and running nose, unable to enjoy the beauty of nature, but can only hide at home, in fact, they are suffering from allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis for short, also known as allergic rhinitis, is a common disease, multi-morbidity, is a non-infectious inflammation of the mucous membrane tissue of the nasal cavity, is also a common manifestation of respiratory allergic reactions, sometimes and bronchial asthma at the same time.
With the development of social economy and the enrichment of material life, various allergic diseases are increasing day by day, especially in developed countries. The occurrence of allergic reactions requires three necessary conditions: (1) specific antigens – substances that cause the body’s immune response; (2) an atopic individual, the so-called allergic body; and (3) an encounter between an atopic antigen and an atopic individual. Allergens that cause allergic rhinitis are mainly inhalants. Common inhalant allergens include house dust, mites, pollen, insects, feathers, fungi, animal dander, etc.
The typical symptoms of allergic rhinitis are mainly paroxysmal sneezing with continuous episodes, large amounts of clear watery mucus, followed by nasal congestion and nasal itching, and some patients have reduced sense of smell, but it is mostly temporary. Sneezing at least 3 times at a time, a large amount of clear watery nasal discharge, often unconsciously dripping from the nose, unbearable nasal itching, in severe cases accompanied by itching of the eyes, external ear canal, soft palate, etc. The degree of nasal congestion varies. It can strike all year round, but can be aggravated in specific seasons, and seasonal attackers have attacks at specific times of the year, with spring and autumn being the most common.
Allergens are examined by in vivo and in vitro tests. In vivo tests include: ① skin test: mainly skin prick test and intradermal test. ② Nasal mucosal excitation test. In vitro tests mainly include serum total IgE and specific IgE tests. The primary treatment for this disease is to avoid exposure to allergens, others include medication (local and systemic medication), immunotherapy (also known as desensitization), and some patients can choose the appropriate surgical treatment according to the condition of the nose.
Allergic rhinitis is one of the systemic allergic diseases, therefore, people suffering from allergic rhinitis are often accompanied by other allergic diseases, such as asthma and eczema, and should pay attention to the relevant departments to obtain the best treatment results. Allergic rhinitis can also be complicated by other diseases, such as sinusitis, nasal polyps, otitis media, etc., which should also be treated accordingly. It is believed that the attack of this disease is closely related to the invasion of external factors such as wind and cold and foreign air (including various allergens), and the main reason for the onset of the disease is the deficiency of lung qi and the lack of solidity of the body.
Patients with this disease should strengthen physical exercise, enhance physical fitness, improve the body’s ability to resist external factors, avoid cold and flu, try to avoid contact with allergenic substances, seek medical advice after the onset of the disease, follow the doctor’s advice, actively cooperate with the treatment, perennial attackers should adhere to long-term medication, and adjust the medication according to the physician’s guidance.