Allergic rhinitis how long

The first and best option is to avoid contact with substances that trigger your nasal allergies allergens. When prevention is not enough, consider using over-the-counter or prescription medicines:. Nasal allergy symptoms may disappear completely when the allergen is removed or after the allergy is treated. Talk to your pharmacist and health care provider about what is best for you. Many people with allergies do not get complete relief from medications. They may be candidates for immunotherapy.

Medical Review October What Causes Rhinitis? What Are the Types of Rhinitis? There are several types of rhinitis: Allergic rhinitis is caused by allergies to substances called allergens.

It is an allergic reaction to pollen from trees, grasses and weeds. This type of rhinitis occurs mainly in the spring and fall, when pollen from trees, grasses and weeds are in the air.

Perennial allergic rhinitis is caused by allergens that are present all year long. The primary causes of this type of rhinitis are allergies to dust mites, mold, animal dander and cockroach debris. Non-allergic rhinitis is not caused by allergens. Smoke, chemicals or other irritating environmental conditions may provoke non-allergic rhinitis. If you respond well to antihistamines, it's almost certain that your symptoms are caused by an allergy.

If the exact cause of allergic rhinitis is uncertain, your GP may refer you to a hospital allergy clinic for allergy testing. Commercial allergy testing kits aren't recommended because the testing is often of a lower standard than that provided by the NHS or an accredited private clinic. It's also important that the test results are interpreted by a qualified healthcare professional with detailed knowledge of your symptoms and medical history.

In some cases further hospital tests may be needed to check for complications, such as nasal polyps or sinusitis. Treatment for allergic rhinitis depends on how severe your symptoms are and how much they're affecting your everyday activities. You should visit your GP if your symptoms are more severe and affecting your quality of life, or if self-help measures haven't been effective. It's possible to treat the symptoms of mild allergic rhinitis with over-the-counter medications, such as long-acting, non-sedating antihistamines.

If possible, try to reduce exposure to the allergen that triggers the condition. See preventing allergic rhinitis for more information and advice about this. Regularly cleaning your nasal passages with a salt water solution — known as nasal douching or irrigation — can also help by keeping your nose free of irritants. You can do this either by using a homemade solution or a solution made with sachets of ingredients bought from a pharmacy.

Small syringes or pots that often look like small horns or teapots are also available to help flush the solution around the inside of your nose.

To make the solution at home, mix half a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda baking powder into a pint ml of boiled water that's been left to cool to around body temperature — do not attempt to rinse your nose while the water is still hot. While you do this, some solution may pass into your throat through the back of your nose. The solution is harmless if swallowed, but try to spit out as much of it as possible.

Nasal irrigation can be carried out as often as necessary, but a fresh solution should be made each time. If your symptoms are caused by seasonal allergens, such as pollen, you should be able to stop taking your medication after the risk of exposure has passed.

Antihistamines relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis by blocking the action of a chemical called histamine, which the body releases when it thinks it's under attack from an allergen. You can buy antihistamine tablets over the counter from your pharmacist without a prescription, but antihistamine nasal sprays are only available with a prescription. Antihistamines can sometimes cause drowsiness. If you're taking them for the first time, see how you react to them before driving or operating heavy machinery.

In particular, antihistamines can cause drowsiness if you drink alcohol while taking them. If you have frequent or persistent symptoms and you have a nasal blockage or nasal polyps, your GP may recommend a nasal spray or drops containing corticosteroids.

Corticosteroids help reduce inflammation and swelling. They take longer to work than antihistamines, but their effects last longer. Side effects from inhaled corticosteroids are rare, but can include nasal dryness, irritation and nosebleeds. If you have a particularly severe bout of symptoms and need rapid relief, your GP may prescribe a short course of corticosteroid tablets lasting 5 to 10 days.

If allergic rhinitis doesn't respond to treatment, your GP may choose to add to your original treatment. If you don't respond to the add-on treatments, you may be referred to a specialist for further assessment and treatment. Immunotherapy, also known as hyposensitisation or desensitisation, is another type of treatment used for some allergies. It's only suitable for people with certain types of allergies, such as hay fever , and is usually only considered if your symptoms are severe.

Immunotherapy involves gradually introducing more and more of the allergen into your body to make your immune system less sensitive to it. The allergen is often injected under the skin of your upper arm. Injections are given at weekly intervals, with a slightly increased dose each time. Immunotherapy can also be carried out using tablets that contain an allergen, such as grass pollen, which are placed under your tongue. When a dose is reached that's effective in reducing your allergic reaction the maintenance dose , you'll need to continue with the injections or tablets for up to three years.

Immunotherapy should only be carried out under the close supervision of a specially trained doctor as there's a risk it may cause a serious allergic reaction. A blocked or runny nose can result in difficulty sleeping , drowsiness during the daytime, irritability and problems concentrating. Allergic rhinitis can also make symptoms of asthma worse.

The inflammation associated with allergic rhinitis can also sometimes lead to other conditions, such as nasal polyps, sinusitis and middle ear infections.

These are described below. Nasal polyps are swellings that grow in the lining inside your nose or sinuses, the small cavities above and behind your nose. They're caused by inflammation of the membranes of the nose and sometimes develop as a result of rhinitis. Nasal polyps are shaped like teardrops when they're growing and look like a grape on a stem when fully grown.

They vary in size and can be yellow, grey or pink. They can grow on their own or in clusters, and usually affect both nostrils. If nasal polyps grow large enough, or in clusters, they can interfere with your breathing, reduce your sense of smell and block your sinuses, which can lead to sinusitis. Small nasal polyps can be shrunk using steroid nasal sprays so they don't cause an obstruction in your nose.

Large polyps may need to be surgically removed. Sinusitis is a common complication of rhinitis. It's where the sinuses become inflamed or infected. A diagnosis of allergic rhinitis will usually be based on your symptoms and any possible triggers you may have noticed. If the cause of your condition is uncertain, you may be referred for allergy testing. Find out more about diagnosing allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is caused by the immune system reacting to an allergen as if it were harmful.

This results in cells releasing a number of chemicals that cause the inside layer of your nose the mucous membrane to become swollen and too much mucus to be produced. Common allergens that cause allergic rhinitis include pollen this type of allergic rhinitis is known as hay fever , as well as mould spores, house dust mites, and flakes of skin or droplets of urine or saliva from certain animals. Find out more about the causes of allergic rhinitis.

It's difficult to completely avoid potential allergens, but you can take steps to reduce exposure to a particular allergen you know or suspect is triggering your allergic rhinitis. Your personalized treatment plan may include: Lifestyle changes environmental control measures Nasal medications to reduce inflammation Antihistamines to relieve itching, sneezing, and runny nose Decongestants to reduce nasal congestion Other medications, or immunotherapy if they are right for you What about allergy shots?

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