allergic rhinitis

An inflammatory response in the nasal passages to allergens, which is the most common form of atopic-allergic disease, affecting 5–20% of the general population. Allergic rhinitis is initiated by exposure of the nasal mucosa to airborne antigens, evoking IgE production; upon repeated re-exposure to the allergen (e.g., ragweed pollen), histamine, leukotrienes C4, D4, E4, B4, PGD2, kinins, kininogen and serotonin are released.

Allergic rhinitis is the most widely used of a plethora of terms referring to the effect of allergens on the upper respiratory tract, in particular the nasopharynx. It is often related to environmental antigens—most commonly pollen—thus being known as seasonal allergic rhinitis (colloquially known as hay fever), and less often to “constant” allergens, in which case it is designated perennial allergic rhinitis.

Clinical findings
Paroxysms of sneezing, nasal congestion, nasal and ocular pruritus, tearing, rhinorrhoea, anosmia, ageusia, postnasal drip (which may cause coughing), partial or total obstruction of airflow, throat clearing, and allergic periorbital hematomas (black eyes).

Diagnosis
Skin testing with appropriate inhalant allergens is of greater use than measuring serum IgE.

Management
Avoid allergens; antihistamines (especially H1-receptor antagonists); sympathomimetic amines; anticholinergics; corticosteroids; decongestants; cromolyn sodium; immunotherapy.

Pathogenesis
Unclear; possibly a hypersensitivity response to allergens in pollen, dander, mites, insects, mould spores, foods; most patients have circulating IgE antibodies that bind to high-affinity receptors on mast cells and basophils, and to low-affinity receptors on other cells, evoking release of inflammatory mediators.

Patient discussion about pollen allergy

Q. I have chronic hayfever problems in the mornings for the first hour.Seems to be a correlation with dairy produ I also got asthma 8 years ago at age 69, after having 2 pet cats. It is controlled with 2 puffs of Symbicord daily, am & pm. Anyone managed a complete cure?

A. Hey lixuri,you mean to tell me after after 25yrs as a therapist,All my patients had to do is drink water all day.i love it,how long does it take to work,an what does the patient do in the mean time if they have a asthmatic attack(drink WAter while you cant breath?-PLEASE SEND ME AN AANSWER.---mrfoot56.

Q. Regarding Seasonal Nasal allergy. My father is suffering from seasonal nasal allergies. He took a 24-hour loratadine pill, 5 hours ago. His nose is still running just like it was. Can I take a benedryl, or is it dangerous to mix loratadine and benedryl? What else can I do to stop my nose?

A. except well known drug interactions- most Dr. check it out with a computer program they have. you need to ask a Dr. or a pharmacist about it. but i can tell you that if you wait 4 times the T1/2 - that is enough to consider the drug out of the system.

Q. is seasonal allergies are treatable?

A. here is the link to the Merck manual about that-
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec16/ch185/ch185b.html

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