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May 2, 2024
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Allergic rhinitis: Know the main symptoms and measures to circumvent them

Sneezing, nasal itching, runny nose and stuffy nose. These are the main symptoms that characterize allergic rhinitis, one of the most common diseases in the world.

Dirceu Solé, director of ASBAI (Brazilian Association of Allergy and Immunology), explains that rhinitis is an allergic and inflammatory disease that affects the lining of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.

Adriane Medeiros Married, an otolaryngologist at the Ceol Otorrino Clinic and Santa Lúcia Hospital (Brasilia), points out that allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the entire nasal mucosa caused by an external mucosal irritant such as dust, pollen, mites, among others.

Also according to Adriane, this is a problem that can affect people of any age. "But usually (the most common) is the disease coming from a family history, from a genetic background?" What does not prevent, however, from the person acquiring it throughout life ?, he says.

In general, says Solé, symptoms begin in childhood, but they can happen at any time in life. "In the first two years of life, the diagnosis is difficult due to confusion with other causes that always cause the child to have nasal symptoms," he comments.

Read also: 10 Symptoms Of Rhinitis That Only Who Has Will Understand

Learn more about the causes, symptoms, treatments and prevention of allergic rhinitis below.

Main causes of allergic rhinitis

Regarding risk groups for the disease, Solé comments that children of parents with allergic rhinitis carry the highest chance of developing it. ? However, it is important to remember that, as with all allergic disease, it is necessary the interaction environment and genetics ?, explains.

In this context, check out the main causes of the disease:

Family history;
House dust mites;
Smoke;
Pollution;
Humid environments;
Animal hair;
Flower and tree pollen;
Environment without cleaning and without ventilation;
Cockroach allergens.

"It's worth noting that viral infections can also trigger or aggravate an episode of rhinitis," adds Solé.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis

It is good to know that the symptoms vary according to the intensity of the disease, as highlighted by Solé. But below you can see the most characteristic signs:

Read also: 13 tricks to relieve sinus attacks

Salsa sneezing (repeated)
Nasal itching
Abundant nasal runny nose
Nasal obstruction

In addition, some patients may have associated eye symptoms, as Solé points out: eye redness, tearing, feeling of sand in the eyes and, in the most intense cases, photophobia (sensation of sensitivity or aversion to any kind of light). • In some patients with severe forms and not properly treated, there may be loss of smell and taste. Can hearing problems also be reported ?, he adds.

Possible treatments

Adriane points out that the main measures to treat the problem are: removal of the causative principle, environmental control, cleaning and ventilation of the house (including the room), removal of animals from indoors, as well as the use of medicines (such as antiallergics). oral and / or topical).

Solé explains that the following drugs can be given and combined according to the intensity of the disease: second generation antihistamines (antiallergic); nasal topical corticosteroid, nasal topical disodium cromoglycate, corticosteroid and antihistamine association for topical nasal use; leukotriene receptor antagonists and immunotherapy. "The response to each of them can be variable, so treatment should be individualized," he points out.

Are There Home Treatments for Allergic Rhinitis?

Adriane points out that the most recommended measures in this regard are: environmental control and nasal cleaning with saline solution.

Dirceu Solé stresses that nasal cavity hygiene is very important in maintaining airway integrity. "So your cleaning can be done with physiological solution," he says.

Read also: Learn how to prevent and treat runny nose, the uncomfortable symptom of? Runny nose?

In addition, the ASBAI director adds, for some patients, inhalation of steam while bathing may help to clog the nasal passages.

Rhinitis x Sinusitis

A very common question is: what are the differences between rhinitis and sinusitis?

Solé responds that sinusitis indicates paranasal sinus involvement."In general, the layman uses this name to point to infectious process in the sinuses characterized by fever, nasal congestion, pain in the region corresponding to the maxillary sinuses (most common) and headache," he says.

Otolaryngologist Adriane adds that both symptoms and treatments are different for these two diseases. "But sinus disease (sinusitis) can be an evolution of untreated rhinitis and even flu," he says.

Simple Measures That Can Help Bypass Symptoms

How to deal with this problem that is so common? It is difficult to talk about a? Total prevention? allergic rhinitis, but there are some precautions (especially within the proposed environmental control) that can contribute to a better quality of life of the patient. Check out the expert guidelines:

Read also: How to prevent allergies in children

Correctly follow the treatment indicated by the specialist doctor;
Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke;
Keep the home and / or work environment as clean as possible;
To cherish for airy environments;
Change bedding more often;
Put pillows and mattress "to take a breath";
Avoid exposure to abrupt changes in air temperature;
Avoid strong smell of products (including paints);
Not have books and / or teddy bears at home (especially in the bedroom);
Move fur animals as far as possible (if this is one of the agents causing symptoms);
Avoid places with mold.

Maintaining the treatment prescribed by the doctor is the main measure to be taken care of, especially in the most intense forms of the disease. Does the feeling of improvement make most patients discontinue treatment, leaving them more vulnerable ?, comments Solé.

Finally, generally recognizing the agents that cause symptoms (eg, household dust, pet dander, moldy places, strong smells, etc.), the patient should move away from them and correctly follow the doctor's prescribed treatment to that can thus have a better quality of life.