Symptoms Of Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is associated with various symptoms affecting the nose. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis appear when you come in contact with allergens such as dust mite, moulds, pollen, animal dander, strong fumes, etc. For most people, the symptoms of allergic rhinitis occur after breathing any of these allergen substances. Tree and grass pollen are the most common causes in the spring season, while ragweed, mould and weed pollen are common in winter season. Few people are allergic to certain foods, and consuming the same will put them at a risk of experiencing allergic symptoms

A person might be suffering from chronic nasal congestion, excess production of mucus, itching in the nose and more similar symptoms to allergic rhinitis. In these cases, allergy might be the cause for a person to develop allergic rhinitis.

For people suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis, the symptoms will occur only during a specific time of the year while for someone having perennial allergic rhinitis, they may experience symptoms over around the year.

Some of the early allergic rhinitis symptoms include:

• Repeated sneezing, especially in the early hours of the morning
• Runny nose and a thin, clear post-nasal drip that may cause a sore throat
• Watery and itchy eyes
• Coughing
• Itchy ears, nose, mouth, eyes and throat

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis that may develop later include:

• Stuffy nose
• Headache
• Fatigue and irritability
• Blocked ears
• Decreased sense of smell
• Swollen or puffy eyelids
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Itching in nose, eyes, or throat
• Hives (swollen, pale, red bumps on skin)
• Sore throat
• Pressure in the nose and cheeks
• Ear fullness and popping

A person will experience one or more of these above symptoms after coming in contact with an allergen. For a few people, symptoms occur only when they are exposed to a large number of allergens in the environment. For most people with allergic rhinitis the symptoms are mild and they can be easily managed or treated. However, for a few people the symptoms of allergic rhinitis can be severe or persistent and it may affect their daily activities, sleep or even their performance at work. The symptoms will gradually fade with time but it can take many years and it is unlikely that this condition disappears completely.

Allergic Rhinitis vs Common Cold

Allergic rhinitis causes cold-like symptoms and so the symptoms of allergic rhinitis can easily be confused with common cold. Unlike cold, allergic rhinitis is not caused by a virus. There are certain differences in the symptoms that can help you distinguish between the two.

Complications of Allergic Rhinitis

There can be some complications that may arise due to allergic rhinitis. It includes:

• Inability to sleep due to symptoms
• Frequent infection of the ears
• Frequent sinus infection
• Limited activities/reduced productivity
• Irritability
• Impaired hand-eye coordination
• Frequent headaches
• Development or worsening of symptoms

If these symptoms are hindering your daily life or activities immediately visit a doctor to know the cause of your symptoms with the help of proper diagnosis. You should keep a record of your symptoms over time as this will help the doctor to diagnose your condition appropriately and provide the required allergic rhinitis treatment.

The treatment for allergic rhinitis aims to manage your symptoms. You can consult the doctor to know a suitable treatment for your particular symptoms. You can draft a management plan with the help of your doctor to deal with the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.