Allergy Clinic
Allergic rhinitis, is an allergic response to specific allergens. Pollen is the most common allergen in seasonal allergic rhinitis. In addition to tree pollen, other common allergens include:
- grass pollen
- dust mites
- animal dander, which is old skin
- cat saliva
- mold
Symptoms of allergic rhinitis
Common symptoms of allergic rhinitis include:
- sneezing
- a runny nose
- a stuffy nose
- an itchy nose
- coughing
- a sore or scratchy throat
- itchy eyes
- watery eyes
- dark circles under the eyes
- frequent headaches
- eczema-type symptoms, such as having extremely dry, itchy skin that can blister and weep
- hives
- excessive fatigue
How is allergic rhinitis diagnosed?
If someone has minor allergies, he'll probably only need a physical exam. However, sometimes we perform certain tests to figure out the best treatment and prevention plan.
A skin prick test is one of the most common. At our centre weplaces several substances onto skin to see how body reacts to each one. Usually, a small red bump appears if you're allergic to a substance.
A blood test, or radioallergosorbent test (RAST), is also common. The RAST measures the amount of immunoglobulin E antibodies to particular allergens in your blood.
Treatment
The management of allergic rhinitis consists of 3 major categories of treatment, (1) environmental control measures and allergen avoidance, (2) pharmacological management, and (3) immunotherapy.
Environmental control measures and allergen avoidance involve both the avoidance of known allergens and avoidance of nonspecific, or irritant, triggers
Medication
Medication won't cure your allergy, but it can be used to treat the common symptoms. Antihistamines and intranasal corticosteroids are the most common drugs prescribed to control allergic symptoms
Immunotherapy
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 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.
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.