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Rhinitis: Allergens
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Allergic rhinitis is caused by substances that trigger allergies, called allergens. Specific allergens can be found both outdoors and indoors. When allergic rhinitis is caused by common outdoor allergens—such as airborne tree, grass and weed pollens or mold—it is often referred to as seasonal allergies, or "hay fever." The time and duration of the different pollen and mold seasons can vary, depending on where you live in the country.
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If you have allergic rhinitis, there are ways to reduce your exposure to allergens. For example, use an air conditioner and air purifier during the seasons when pollen levels are high. Keep your house as free of dust as possible by damp mopping and using a vacuum cleaner with a special filter designed to trap fine particles. Avoid contact with animals, or keep your pets bathed and well groomed.
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Allergic rhinitis is a swelling of the nasal passages, usually accompanied by sneezing, watery nasal discharge and itching of the nose and eyes. This medical condition is caused by an allergic reaction to allergens such as house dust, animal dander, or pollen. On any given day, 10,000 American children miss school because of allergic rhinitis, for a total of 2 million lost school days.
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If avoiding allergens and using antihistamines or nasal corticosteroids do not help your symptoms of allergic rhinitis, your doctor may suggest you take pill or injected corticosteroids. They are used only for symptoms that are severe. And they are used only for 3 to 10 days. This is because these types of corticosteroids have severe side effects when you take them for a long time.
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Once your allergic rhinitis triggers are determined, your physician or nurse will work with you to develop a plan to avoid the allergens that trigger your symptoms. For example, if you are allergic to dust mites or indoor mold, you will want to take steps to reduce these allergens in your house as much as possible. The Tips brochures on Indoor Allergens and Outdoor Allergens provide helpful advice in this area.
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If you have symptoms of allergic rhinitis, your allergist can help you determine which specific allergens are triggering your reaction. He or she will take a thorough history and then use allergy skin testing to determine if you have allergies, and what your specific allergy triggers are. The results of the testing will then help guide treatment measures. If the test results determine that you are allergic to dust mites and not animal dander, you will need to attempt to reduce dust mite levels in your house, but don't have to consider finding a new home for your dog.
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