Is allergic rhinitis contagious?

Written by Deng Bang Yu

Otolaryngology

Updated on September 17, 2024

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Allergic rhinitis is a type of hypersensitivity reaction occurring in our nasal cavity. It is an immunological disease, not caused by bacterial or viral infections, so it is definitely not contagious. However, in real life, it may create an appearance of being contagious. For example, if one family member develops allergic rhinitis, other family members might also start showing symptoms of allergic rhinitis. This is mainly because all family members live in the same environment, which might be the allergen-triggering environment. Essentially, allergic rhinitis is a hypersensitivity disease and is not contagious. It’s just that living in the same environment, everyone may develop this disease, but it is not transmitted from one person to another.

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Written by Li Rui

Otolaryngology

49sec

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How to completely cure allergic rhinitis?

For allergic rhinitis, most patients mainly focus on controlling and stabilizing the condition, and only a small portion of them can be completely cured, mainly those who are solely allergic to mites. It is advisable to first undergo allergy testing. If the test results show only a simple mite allergy, and the allergic reaction is severe (exceeding three levels), desensitization treatment could be considered. Currently, this mainly involves sublingual immunotherapy or subcutaneous injections. Most patients can achieve clinical cure with this treatment; however, a minority may only experience relief without achieving complete cure. Overall, for allergic rhinitis, most patients cannot be completely cured. (Use of medication should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Deng Bang Yu

Otolaryngology

47sec

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Manifestations of Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is a type of hypersensitivity disease, with clinical symptoms primarily presented in the nasal cavity. Its main manifestations are nasal congestion, nasal itching, abundant clear nasal discharge, continuous paroxysmal sneezing, and reduced sense of smell. If the allergies in allergic rhinitis are not effectively controlled, the allergic symptoms may progress downward, potentially leading to allergic pharyngitis, characterized by an itchy throat, dry cough, and hoarse voice. If it continues to develop further, it can lead to allergic asthma. This is clinically referred to as "one airway, one disease." Therefore, it is crucial to actively intervene and provide appropriate treatment for allergic rhinitis.

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Written by Li Rui

Otolaryngology

46sec

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How to diagnose allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis is a relatively common otolaryngological disease, with numerous clinical symptoms. The most common symptoms are itchy nose, clear runny nose, and sneezing. In terms of examination, an allergen test can first be conducted to help identify the specific types of allergens. Currently, a skin prick test or blood test can be considered; both methods can determine the specific allergens. In daily life, it is necessary to avoid these as much as possible. Secondly, a nasopharyngoscope examination should be conducted. Through the nasopharyngoscope examination, the extent of the inflammatory response inside the nasal cavity can be determined. At the same time, it also helps to investigate other diseases in the nasal cavity or nasopharynx.

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Written by Yao Jun

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

54sec

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Allergic rhinitis symptoms

Allergic rhinitis is a common disease in otolaryngology, often occurring throughout the year. It can be categorized into perennial allergic rhinitis or seasonal allergic rhinitis. Perennial allergic rhinitis may be related to dust, talcum powder, dust mites, or animal dander, among others. Seasonal rhinitis is often associated with hay fever. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the type of allergic rhinitis based on the patient's season of onset and the allergens involved. Common symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itching of the nose, and itchy eyes. Perennial allergic rhinitis occurs throughout the year, whereas pollen-induced allergic rhinitis, or seasonal rhinitis, tends to have more severe symptoms during the blooming season of spring.

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Written by Feng Ying Shuai

Traditional Chinese Medicine

1min 3sec

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Where to apply moxibustion for allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis is a common clinical disease. Apart from medication, we can also use moxibustion to enhance the body's resistance and reduce local congestion of the nasal mucosa in allergic rhinitis, achieving the purpose of disease prevention and treatment. Where do we usually apply moxibustion? If it involves distant moxibustion, it usually targets acupuncture points that enhance the body's resistance, such as Zusanli and Guanyuan, which are very effective points. Moxibustion can also be applied to Xuehai. Additionally, we can moxibust certain local points such as Yingxiang and Yintang to relieve nasal congestion and alleviate clinical symptoms like swelling of the nasal mucosa. Of course, moxibustion can also be applied to some points on the back related to the lungs, including lung meridian points and Gaohuang, all of which are effective in treating and preventing allergic rhinitis.