For each person, an allergy can manifest itself in different ways, but more often it is expressed in the appearance of a runny nose. Various irritants can become the cause, in any case, this phenomenon causes a lot of inconvenience. But questions arise: if you have an allergic rhinitis, how to treat this disease, what drugs will be effective and what can be done to minimize the likelihood of a relapse?
What is allergic rhinitis
An allergic rhinitis (rhinitis) may be accompanied by rhinorrhea (nasal discharge). Its occurrence is characterized by difficulty in breathing, nasal passages swell, itching or burning appears, stuffy nose, sneezing begins. It is possible that these symptoms may be accompanied by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes (conjunctivitis). But in each case, a person may notice additional individual manifestations. Also, in a certain month of the year, a constant runny nose can be observed. The reasons for such manifestations are various.
Why does allergic rhinitis occur?
An allergic rhinitis develops against a background of hypersensitivity to a particular allergen. It manifests itself immediately or 20 minutes after contact with the stimulus. For a person, plant pollen, dust accumulated on the shelves of libraries or at home, some medications, certain foods can become such an allergen. In addition, an allergy to cats, insects, and mushrooms (mold or yeast) may develop. But some people face this problem due to a genetic predisposition.
Symptoms
But how to distinguish an allergic rhinitis from a common cold? Some signs are noted below:
- Itchy nose.
- Colorless watery discharge. If an irritant enters, attacks of prolonged sneezing may begin.
- A feeling of nasal congestion, which becomes more noticeable during the night.
- Often, such rhinitis is accompanied by conjunctivitis, itching in the eyes and even facial swelling. Also, the appearance of a cough is not excluded, and this, in turn, can lead to bronchial asthma.
- Examination by an otolaryngologist reveals a pale and loose nasal membrane, while there are watery discharge. Pharyngitis may develop.
- Being indoors, a person feel a constant runny nose. The reasons for this are different, but usually allergies are caused by chemical odors, tobacco smoke, perfumes, powders and other household chemicals, industrial fragrances or new furniture.
The consequences of an allergic rhinitis
If a person has an allergy, its symptoms will constantly occur shortly after contact with an irritant (it is individual for each). If
it is hay fever, then the symptoms will be present for a long time, while trees, shrubs or weeds bloom. From frequent scratching, such people even have a transverse fold on their nose. In addition, the constant nasal congestion leads to the fact that a person begins to breathe only through his mouth. This circumstance usually leads to stagnant processes and the formation of polyps, the development of sinusitis or otitis media. Mucosal edema can lead to obstruction of the sinuses. In addition, the sense of smell and, as a result, a sense of taste often disappear. If rhinitis is seasonal, complications are usually not observed.
Nutrition
In some cases, an improperly selected diet can aggravate the patient's condition. Sometimes the most effective allergy remedy is to remove certain foods from the diet. For example, if a person has a reaction to pollen, it is important to determine in which period it appears. In the spring months, poplar, hazel, birch and other trees usually bloom. If it is during this period that an allergy appears, it is better to exclude potatoes, parsley, honey, pears and apples from the diet. This is necessary to avoid cross-reaction. If irritation begins in August and September, when ragweed and quinoa bloom, it is advisable to abandon mayonnaise, cabbage, watermelons and honey. But this is not the whole list of products, since there is much that can cause cross allergies. Be sure to consult an allergist.
We determine the nature of the disease
Before deciding how to treat an allergic rhinitis, it is important to determine the source of the problem. Finding out the cause, you can cope with the disease. But to determine the source of the allergy, it is important to appear to the allergist, who will prescribe the passage of tests. It can be blood donation or skin tests. Having learned the source of irritation, you need to minimize your contact with him. If it turned out that this is a reaction to flowering, then during this period it is better to go on vacation, if it is food, then they must be excluded, and so on.
Allergic rhinitis: how to treat this disease
With seasonal rhinitis, be sure to do nose washings. In pharmacies, an inexpensive device called "Dolphin" is sold, which is convenient for this procedure. It consists of a bottle, tube and cap. With it, you can adjust the fluid flow and minimize discomfort. The medicine for allergic rhinitis, which will be washed, can be done independently. To do this, 1/4 teaspoon of soda and salt is dropped into a glass of water, a few drops of iodine are added. The tool is placed in the device. If desired, you can buy a solution in bags in a pharmacy. In addition, a spray from an allergic rhinitis based on sea water works great. It can be “Aqua Maris”, “Aqualor”, “Marimer”, “Allergol”.
Treatment program
As already mentioned, before treating an allergic rhinitis, it is important to find out its nature. If you do not know what causes irritation, treatment becomes useless, and sometimes it can be harmful to your health.
Having revealed the nature of the disease, you can proceed to the following steps:
- Getting rid of inflammation that appeared on the nasal mucosa.
- Allergic-specific therapy.
Anti-inflammatory treatment
Most often, in order to get rid of inflammation, an integrated approach is used, in which several drugs are involved. So, how to treat an allergic rhinitis, what drugs are prescribed by doctors?
These are usually antihistamines in the form of tablets or drops. Today, doctors advise using second-generation drugs, such as Tsetrin, Zodak, Kestin, Claritin, and the third generation - Erius, Zirtek, Telfast. Depending on the age of the patient, the dosage is adjusted. Usually, the course of treatment should last two to three weeks. But if you go to the doctor, he appoints the number of days at his discretion (given the condition of the patient). It is worth noting that it is forbidden to prescribe such drugs on your own. Before treating an allergic rhinitis without consulting a doctor, it is worth considering that these drugs always have side effects and very often they have a cardiotoxic effect, having a negative effect on the heart. Medicines of the latest generation are considered less hazardous to health, but their cost remains high.
Sprays and drops from rhinitis
If these drugs could not bring relief, the next step will be drops in the nose from an allergic rhinitis and sprays that act directly on the nasal mucosa. With a mild manifestation of symptoms, "Cromoglin", "Kromosol", "Cromohexal", that is, sodium cromoglycate derivatives, are usually prescribed. These funds are found in the form of sprays. They must be used all the time, while the exacerbation lasts three times a day, doing one or two injections. The result can be seen only after the fifth day, and sometimes even later. Usually, treatment of allergic rhinitis in children is not complete without these drugs. Since these funds are more preventive, the course can last up to four months. But doctors do not prohibit the use of such sprays all year.
Also, the tool "Nazaval" has gained popularity. It is based on vegetable cellulose. This spray for allergic rhinitis is used up to six times a day. After injecting its contents into the nose, a membrane forms on the mucosa, which serves as a barrier, preventing the stimulus from affecting sensitive areas. If the disease is acute, this remedy will be ineffective.
In severe allergic rhinitis, you can use such sprays as Nazonex, Aldetsin, Nazarel, Benarin, Nasobek, Flixonase. The doctor will help determine the duration of the course of such treatment.
Drop treatment error
Often, using drops in the nose from an allergic rhinitis, a person makes a mistake - for a long time he uses vasoconstrictor drugs. Typically, these products (Naphthyzinum, Vibrocil, etc.) help make breathing easier. But, using them for a long time, the patient increases the likelihood of developing drug rhinitis. Sometimes, depending on the severity, surgery may be necessary to get rid of the acquired disease. For allergic rhinitis, it is advisable not to use these drops. An exception can be made only with severe nasal congestion, but then you need to switch to intranasal glucocorticoids.
Allergen-specific therapy
Some people may not benefit from any cure for an allergic rhinitis, while others may have contraindications to such drugs. In these cases, you can resort to a completely radical method of struggle - allergen-specific therapy. But only an experienced doctor should deal with such treatment and only in a hospital setting. The principle is to administer to the patient a specific dose of the allergen. Gradually, the dose should increase. All this is necessary so that the body can develop resistance to the stimulus. If the treatment is successful, the symptoms of allergic rhinitis completely recede. A similar method has already been tested by thousands of people and were pleased with the result, since they were able to get rid of the symptoms that tormented them.
You can also use a homeopathic remedy for an allergic rhinitis called "Rhinosennai" in treatment.
Folk methods
As you know, traditional medicine helps in the fight against many diseases, but, unfortunately, it cannot cure allergic rhinitis. Often, treatment with fees, infusions and decoctions can worsen a person’s condition, since allergies can aggravate from such an effect. Do not listen to the advice of neighbors and friends who allegedly cured by folk methods of an allergic rhinitis. There is only one safe "home" method of alleviating the condition - this is flushing the nasal passages with saline. But it is worth considering that this measure is not a treatment, therefore it is better not to delay, but rather to get drops from an allergic rhinitis in a pharmacy on the recommendation of a doctor. This is necessary because simply using saline is not able to bring a tangible, lasting therapeutic effect.
Allergic rhinitis while carrying a child
When allergic rhinitis begins to develop during pregnancy, women and doctors sound the alarm, since many methods of treatment, including folk ones, cannot be used. The disease itself has almost no effect on the fetus. But with improperly selected methods of treatment, as well as if the condition has grown into a more severe form, the threat to the baby increases. To identify the cause of the allergy, a woman needs to take a blood test. You cannot take a sample from the skin at this time.
Methods of treatment while carrying a baby
Firstly, it is worth remembering that it is forbidden to treat allergic rhinitis during pregnancy with antihistamines, since they can harm the fetus. If there is an urgent need for them, it is better to give preference to third-generation funds. But the dosage is strictly prescribed and regulated by the doctor.
Treatment should be local in nature and affect only the nasal canals. Therefore, the doctor may prescribe a spray or drops for an allergic rhinitis containing sodium cromoglycate. In any case, the basis of such preparations should be plant cellulose. But it is important to note that in the first three months of gestation, it is also not worth using nasal corticosteroids.
Allergic Rhinitis Lifestyle
The main task in case of allergic symptoms is to reduce contact with the stimulus to the minimum possible. But it can be detected only after a diagnosis. Next, the doctor should give his recommendations.
All allergens are divided into:
- household (household dust, feather pillows);
- food (various products);
- industrial (powders, detergents);
- pollen;
- epidermal (animal hair, bird feathers);
- fungal.
Once an allergen is identified, it is easier to think about further measures. For example, with a food allergy, a person passes tests that show which products are incompatible with the body. They will have to be removed from the diet.
If a household allergy is identified, wet cleaning is recommended daily. During the cleaning itself, it is necessary to be in a bandage or mask, which will prevent dust from entering the mucous membrane. In addition, all bedding should only be made of hypoallergenic materials. It is also advisable not to keep dust collectors in your apartment. These include mattresses, rugs, fabric and soft toys, and more. In addition, do not forget that cleaning blinds is much easier than constantly washing heavy curtains. Furniture should be made of material that can be wiped with a damp cloth. During cleaning, you need to use acaricidal drugs, since they are able to exterminate ticks that live in house dust. It is no secret that these parasites are responsible for 50% of cases of the development of household allergies.
If the pollen of trees and flowers is the cause of irritation of the mucous membrane, then you will have to refuse to leave the city. You can arrange evening walks in the city (from 22 hours). It is at this time that the concentration of pollen in the air decreases. Also in the first half of the day you should not open your windows. You can install an air purifier in the apartment. Many companies strive to make their cosmetics on herbs. People allergic to pollen should refrain from using such substances. Also, during the period when flowering begins, you can take a vacation and try to leave your region. The destination is better to choose the sea or mountainous terrain. In these areas, pollen concentration is always minimal.
Prevention
Unfortunately, modern medicine has not yet developed measures that allow for prevention and reduce the likelihood of developing allergic rhinitis. If the disease has already overcome a person, all prevention is reduced to reducing contact with the irritant, and a suitable remedy for allergic rhinitis is also selected. This is necessary, because in the absence of proper treatment, the disease will begin to progress. In this case, all available symptoms will intensify.
Allergies and Pets
Approximately 15% of the population experience difficulty when they develop an allergy to pet hair. But the reaction in a person does not arise on the wool itself, but on what is on it. Animals can lick and leave their saliva and particles of skin on the fibers. They cause irritation of the mucous membranes. But how? Animal cells are strong enough proteins, when they enter the human body with a weakened immune system, they begin to be perceived as a threat to them, and a protective reaction is triggered. Side effects of these "contacts" are manifested in allergies. It can be watery eyes, skin rashes, rhinitis and asthma attacks. Most often, people are allergic to cats, but other animals can also be sources of such painful symptoms.
How to deal with pet allergies
Often this reaction to wool cannot be prevented. But to minimize the risk of developing this type of allergy is possible. For this, preparation begins from childhood. If a child has a tendency to allergies, do not immediately give a cat or other animal. If the baby continues to contact with the pet, his body will be able to develop a protective function, as a result, allergies can be avoided already in adulthood.
Treatment methods
If the reaction to the coat has already developed, you can use modern methods that are usually used to treat other types of allergies.
- As in other cases, it is important to use antihistamines. They are necessary in order to neutralize the action of substances that cause symptoms. For example, it can be Claritin, Benadryl - they are sold in pharmacies without a prescription. Also, the doctor may prescribe medications that are dispensed only by prescription (for example, Allegra).
- Decongestants can also help here, since an allergy to wool can cause swelling of the mucosa. Such drugs do not allow mucus to stagnate. Such funds include Sudafed.
- Also, the doctor may prescribe other drugs that successfully cope with asthma and allergic symptoms. For example, prescription steroids “Flonase” or “Nazonex” are usually prescribed for treatment.
Other events
In addition to treatment, it is worth observing simple rules that help reduce the chances of an exacerbation or onset of symptoms. Recommendations apply to pet owners.
- Bathe your pet and comb out.
- Regularly arrange wet cleaning in the rooms.
- The animal should lie and sleep on its bedding, and not on the bed or chair of the owners.
- After contact with your pet, always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- To reduce hair loss, try to keep your pet's nutrition balanced.
By choosing the right treatment and taking all preventive measures, you may be able to get along with your favorite pet in the same area.