Allergic rhinitis:  Is a reaction to airborne (inhaled) allergens.  Depending on the allergen, the resulting rhinitis and conjunctivitis may be seasonal such as hay fever or occurring year round (perennial allergic rhinitis).  This disorder commonly affects young children and adolescents but can affect all age groups.  Seasonal pollen allergy may exacerbate symptoms of perennial rhinitis.

Cause:  Hay fever results from wind borne pollens such as  grass. and weeds as well as from mold (fungal spores) in the summer and fall perennial allergic rhinitis results from house dust, feather pillows, cigarette smoke, animal dander, and upholstery

Symptoms:

Hay fever:  sneezing, profuse watery rhinorrhea, and nasal obstruction or congestion.

Nose and eyes may itch

Nasal mucosa may appear pale cyanotic and edematous

Eyelids and conjunctivae may appear red and edematous

Headache or sinus pain, dark circles under the eyes (allergic shiners)

May experience itchy throat, malaise, and fever

Perennial allergic rhinitis:  chronic nasal obstruction often extending to eustachian tube obstruction, particularly in children, and dark circles under the eyes

Treatment:

To control symptoms by eliminating the environmental antigen, if possible, and by drug therapy and immunotherapy.

Antihistamines

Tropical intranasal steroids produce local anti inflammatory effects with minimal systemic effects