Outpatient clinics often encounter patients with stuffy and runny noses complaining about their “daily cold and flu”. In fact, this is not necessarily a cold, but allergic rhinitis at work. Allergic rhinitis is generally classified as perennial or persistent and seasonal or intermittent. Strictly speaking, allergic rhinitis is currently incurable. However, with proper prevention and control, it can be managed. The treatment of allergic rhinitis consists of avoiding contact with allergens, medication and immunotherapy. What are the major allergens? Although the exact pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis is not clear, one thing is certain, if the body does not inhale allergens, then it will not develop. Therefore, avoiding or reducing contact with allergens is essential for the prevention of allergic rhinitis. The most important allergens in the home are dust mites, molds, pets, and insects. Dust mites feed on human dander, and thus there are more dust mites and their excretions on bedding and underwear that are in close contact with the human body, and these are the most important allergens that cause perennial allergic rhinitis. Secondly, domestic pets, such as cats, dogs, birds and other thermostatic animals also contain allergenic substances in their dander and saliva. In addition, molds that tend to grow in humid, warm, poorly ventilated living environments and a variety of insects, including crickets, flies, moths, and especially cockroach excrement are important allergens. How to reduce allergens in the home? First of all, comprehensive and thorough cleaning of the room is the best way to reduce allergens. Such as timely removal of books and newspapers in the bedroom; to dry clothes before collection; strengthen indoor ventilation, the use of effective exhaust equipment; often clean the surface of furniture and furniture, television sets, sofas, refrigerators behind the dust; to reduce the dust particles in the air of the living room, but also try to use high-efficiency particle filters or other air filtration equipment; for families with allergic rhinitis patients it is best not to use carpets, even if they do. Should also use washable carpet. Secondly, mattresses, curtains, sofa sets, pillows and bedding, carpets are good places for dust mites to grow and can be cleaned regularly in hot water (≥55 degrees Celsius) because dust mites can be killed at a certain temperature; of course, you can also use anti-allergen bedding. Third, in the home with allergic patients should avoid keeping pets, if you must have a pet, try not to choose a cat, but a dog, try to avoid pets into the bedroom, adhere to once a week for the pet bath also helps to reduce the allergens carried by pets; of course, proper management of stored food can effectively curb the reproduction of cockroaches; reduce the growth of indoor plants, is also an effective means to prevent the reproduction of mold. How to avoid outdoor allergens? Outdoor allergens can exist throughout the year. For example, balsam fir, poplar, birch and oak trees in spring; and pollen from many plants in autumn are all important allergens. We often encounter patients who regularly develop allergic rhinitis symptoms during a certain season each year, and whose symptoms are significantly reduced or disappear once the season passes. This is often seasonal allergic rhinitis, and a common allergen is pollen. When the pollen content in the air is high (5:00 to 10:00 in the morning is the peak pollen time; in windy weather, the concentration of pollen in the air is also correspondingly high), you should stay indoors as much as possible and close doors and windows, reduce outdoor activities, or use air conditioning or reduce the number of window openings, try to use air filters and other methods; usually pollen tends to accumulate in people’s hair and clothes, after going out and coming home Showering can remove allergens from the body after going out; use a dryer to dry the laundry after washing and avoid drying it outside in the sun; wear a mask when going outdoors will also help to prevent diseases. In addition, environmental irritants such as: cigarette smoke, perfume, cosmetics, soap, shampoo, etc. can cause nasal symptoms similar to allergic rhinitis and can also aggravate allergic rhinitis symptoms, so contact with these substances should be avoided as much as possible. In fact, allergic rhinitis is the body’s defense response to allergens in the environment. Sneezing and runny nose can eliminate allergens from the body, and nasal congestion can reduce the inhalation of allergens. If contact with allergens can be avoided, allergic rhinitis will not occur naturally. Therefore, for patients with allergic rhinitis, avoiding contact with allergens is the first and most important step of treatment. For patients with milder conditions, the disease can sometimes be controlled by simply avoiding contact with allergens, but when this method alone is not effective, you should actively go to a regular hospital, consult a specialist, and consider medication and immunotherapy.