How to Diagnose Allergic Rhinitis

Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 07, 2024
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Allergic rhinitis is a common and frequently occurring disease clinically. The definite diagnosis of allergic rhinitis primarily relies on the following points: First, the medical history, such as a history of living in an allergenic environment or a family history, along with a past history of the condition. Second, the clinical manifestations of allergic rhinitis, such as rhinitis, paroxysmal sneezing, a large amount of clear watery nasal discharge, and upon nasal examination, the nasal mucosa appears pale and swollen with clear watery discharge present in the nasal cavity. Additionally, supportive examinations can reveal an increase in eosinophils or lymphocytes in the complete blood count, or the detection of allergens, and specific IgE tests, etc. With these medical histories, clinical symptom manifestations, and supportive examinations, allergic rhinitis can be definitively diagnosed.

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Symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis

The symptoms of allergic rhinitis are numerous. Common clinical symptoms include repetitive itching of the nose, runny nose, and sneezing, which can occur consecutively several times and are directly triggered by contact with allergens. Common allergens include dust, pollen, seafood, and pets. If the allergic reaction is severe, contact with these allergens can quickly trigger the aforementioned clinical symptoms, characterized by sudden onset of nose itching, clear nasal discharge, and sneezing. In terms of treatment, oral medications and nasal sprays are primarily used. A small portion of patients might consider desensitization therapy or surgical treatment, but it is generally difficult to achieve a complete cure.

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How to treat allergic rhinitis?

The treatment of allergic rhinitis is currently mainly divided into three categories: The first category is pharmacotherapy, the second is desensitization therapy, and the third is surgical treatment. Pharmacotherapy generally focuses on nasal sprays and oral medications, which are targeted anti-allergy treatments. This method primarily controls and stabilizes the symptoms but is unlikely to provide a cure. Desensitization therapy is mainly suitable for patients who are solely allergic to mites. Some patients may achieve a cure after undergoing desensitization therapy. Surgical treatment can also be considered, but it is not the first choice. It is mainly used for patients who do not respond well to conservative medication and have particularly severe symptoms. In such cases, surgery might be considered because, whether through pharmacotherapy or surgical treatment, most patients aim primarily to control the disease rather than achieving a cure. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor)

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Does allergic rhinitis cause a fever?

Allergic rhinitis generally rarely involves a fever. This is because the main pathogenic mechanism of allergic rhinitis is exposure to allergens, which triggers the body's autoimmune response, leading to common clinical symptoms such as itchy nose, clear nasal discharge, and sneezing, and it may persistently recur. However, overall, it is caused by the body's immune allergic response, without obvious acute bacterial or viral infection, so the likelihood of causing a fever is small. Therefore, in terms of treatment, if there is a fever, it is necessary to investigate whether there is an acute viral or bacterial infection. This can be done by observing clinical symptoms, examining the conditions inside the nasal cavity, and combining this with routine blood tests, which essentially can confirm and determine the diagnosis.

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Does allergic rhinitis cause coughing?

Allergic rhinitis can cause symptoms of coughing, as the allergens that patients come into contact with lead to hypersensitivity in the upper airways, triggering bronchospasm. Thus, patients experience irritative coughing and related phenomena. For coughs caused by allergic rhinitis, the primary treatment involves the use of anti-allergy medications. In daily life, it is first necessary to avoid contact with allergens, and allergen testing can be conducted to identify the specific allergens affecting the patient. Additionally, during episodes of allergic rhinitis, patients should use antihistamines, leukotriene inhibitors, and steroid nasal sprays to control the episodes of allergic rhinitis and reduce the symptoms of coughing. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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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.