Allergic Rhinitis – Symptoms, Treament and Prevention
Allergic Rhinitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the nose caused by an allergic reaction as inhaled allergens are trapped by the nasal filtration system. In allergic rhinitis, sneezing is a prominent feature and nasal symptoms may be accompanied by itchy watery eyes and intense itching of the nose and soft palate. The disease is triggered in susceptible children by allergic reactions to pollen, mold, dust mites, and other allergens. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is called HAY FEVER or seasonal allergic rhinitis. In this condition, both the nose and the eyes are affected.
Allergic rhinitis that occurs year-round is known as perennial allergic rhinitis. Seasonal pollen allergy may exacerbate symptoms of perennial rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is the most common chronic disease in children, affecting about one in five children by the age of two or three years; up to 30 percent are affected during adolescence. Boys are twice as likely to get allergic rhinitis than girls, but the prevalence of allergic rhinitis may vary greatly by region. A study in Tucson, Arizona, for example, found that 42 percent of children were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis by the age of six.