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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Written by Yao Jun
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
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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 Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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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 Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Is allergic rhinitis easy to treat?

Allergic rhinitis is a relatively common disease in otolaryngology, and overall, its treatment is quite simple. Most patients consider pharmacotherapy, primarily consisting of oral medications and nasal sprays, which are targeted anti-allergy treatments. After pharmacological treatment, most patients can effectively control their condition and alleviate symptoms. However, in general, allergic rhinitis is mainly managed rather than cured, as curing it is quite difficult. It is advisable to undergo allergen testing and avoid contact with allergens in daily life as much as possible. For patients who are solely allergic to mites, there is an opportunity for desensitization therapy, which can potentially cure a portion of patients. Nevertheless, whether through pharmacotherapy or desensitization therapy, a large number of patients cannot be completely cured. Therefore, the focus is mainly on controlling and stabilizing the condition. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
59sec home-news-image

How to Diagnose Allergic Rhinitis

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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home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
1min home-news-image

Do allergic rhinitis need to be treated?

Allergic rhinitis generally requires treatment, but it also needs to be combined with clinical symptoms and the degree of inflammatory response. If the symptoms of allergic rhinitis are not severe and the inflammatory response is very mild, this situation may consider avoiding contact with allergens and then regularly re-examining to observe changes in the condition. If the symptoms are relatively obvious, such as frequent itching in the nose, running clear nasal discharge, sneezing, and a more severe inflammatory response, it is indeed necessary to consider timely treatment. In terms of treatment, medication is the main method, such as using oral medications and nasal spray medications for anti-allergy treatment. A small number of patients may consider desensitization treatment or surgical treatment. However, most patients still focus on controlling and alleviating the condition, and it is difficult to cure completely. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician)