Dorothy FarrarAllergic rhinitis
An allergic rhinitis is an allergic reaction. If the patient comes into contact with an allergen, the body reacts by releasing antibodies. As a result, messenger substances are released, which are responsible for the symptoms that occur. Allergy should be treated by desensitization.
What is an allergic rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis, also known as allergic rhinitis, is a common phenomenon in Europe. About 60 million Europeans suffer from allergic rhinitis. There is an allergy to certain substances or living beings.
Those affected are hypersensitive to pollen, mites or the like. This means that the immune system is malfunctioning. This is aimed at actually harmless substances. As a result, an immunological reaction takes place in the body. The symptoms of an allergic cold are largely the same as those of a cold . In the case of an allergic cold, however, there are no pathogens. Instead, there is an allergic reaction . Allergic rhinitis affects not only the nose, but the entire upper respiratory tract.
causes
An allergy is a malfunction of the immune system. This sees certain substances, which are actually harmless, as a threat. If the affected person comes into contact with these substances, the body reacts by releasing antibodies that are directed against the respective allergen. These antibodies “network” and dock to certain receptors of the immune system on the mucous membranes. As a result, the body releases certain messenger substances. These messenger substances cause the blood vessels to widen, edema to form, nasal secretions to be produced and fine nerve fibers to be irritated.Especially in spring and summer, those affected come into contact with the respective allergens. So-called “pollen flight calendars” indicate when which pollen can be found in the area. The symptoms appear as soon as the respective allergen is encountered. If there is an allergy to a substance with which the patient comes into contact all year round, the allergic rhinitis is often present all year round. This can be the case, for example, with an allergy to house dust mites.
In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in allergic rhinitis. This can be attributed to increasing hygiene and the increasing aggressiveness of allergens caused by pollutants and changed lifestyles. The task of the antibody “immunoglobulin E”, which plays a central role in allergies, is actually to fight parasites . Due to steadily increasing hygiene, people in the first world are generally no longer threatened by parasites. The defense bodies therefore no longer have a task, which means that they “create new opponents” – in this case pollen or mites. This thesis is supported by the fact that allergies are almost unknown in third world countries.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of allergic rhinitis:
The symptoms of an allergic rhinitis are similar to those of a cold. As a result of an allergic reaction to pollen or mites, the nose can become swollen, blocked or constantly “runny”. An unpleasant itching in the nose is also typical of allergic rhinitis. There may also be increased sneezing. In addition, eye involvement is noted in many patients. These are red, itchy and teary. In some cases, lower airway involvement may also occur. Symptoms of bronchial asthma with coughing and shortness of breath are typical of such involvement. In the case of severe symptoms, patients often report a general feeling of illness.
If there is no longer any contact with the allergen, the allergic reaction subsides after a while. If the patient is confronted with the allergen again, an allergic reaction occurs again. For this reason, there is often a “continuously present” reaction during the pollen season, which is very uncomfortable for the patient.
When to the doctor?
To clarify the symptoms, a visit to a doctor is advisable as soon as they occur for the first time. They can carry out an allergy test to find out which allergens the body reacts to. Furthermore, it makes sense to consult a doctor in order to be able to treat the allergy appropriately. If there is no therapy, the symptoms can become chronic. However, if appropriate therapy is carried out in a timely manner, it is possible after some time to achieve almost complete freedom from allergic symptoms. It is also important to clarify whether an allergy is actually present. Laypeople often confuse the symptoms of allergic rhinitis with other diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
Diagnose
The diagnosis is usually based on the medical history and a subsequent allergy test. The patient should record the occurrence of symptoms. With regard to the diagnosis, it is important to be able to name the circumstances of the occurrence. An allergy can often be inferred from the anamnesis. For example, if the patient reports that the symptoms only occur in a certain environment, an allergen is to be suspected in this environment.
The diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is secured by an allergy test. The ” skin prick test ” is the most frequently used procedure for allergy diagnostics in practice. As part of this test, various allergen-containing solutions are brought into contact with the skin’s defense cells. The administration takes place in the arm. If a reaction is observed, the patient is allergic to the allergen in question.
complications
An allergy can lead to chronic inflammation in the area of the nose and paranasal sinuses. The mucous membrane there is permanently damaged and changed by the chronic inflammation. As a result, the nasal mucosa cannot perform its tasks, which leads to increased absorption of pollutants, proliferation of the inflamed mucosa and impaired breathing. There is also the risk of a “change of floors”. Bronchial asthma can develop from hay fever .
treatment and therapy
The acute allergic reaction is treated with antiallergic drugs . These drugs usually inhibit the release of the messenger substances that are responsible for the allergic reaction. The most prominent representatives of this group are the so -called antihistamines , which prevent the messenger histamine from docking with the immune cells. These medications can be administered either locally in the form of nasal drops or systemically. The patient is also advised to avoid contact with the allergen.
The most effective way to suppress the symptoms of allergic rhinitis is with topical corticosteroids . These suppress all symptoms that occur. Corticosteroids are given in the form of nasal sprays to suppress nasal symptoms. If the eye is also affected by the symptoms, special eye drops that also contain corticosteroids must also be administered.
In order to be able to defeat the allergy in the long term, however, specific immunotherapy must be carried out. This hyposensitization results in long-term insensitivity to the allergen. So the allergy is eliminated. For this purpose, increasing doses of the allergen are administered over several years. SIT should be started as early as possible if it is to be fully effective.
outlook and prognosis
If the allergy is treated with SIT, the chances of success are good. In this case, you can expect freedom from allergies after about three years. Further treatment is not necessary in this case, as the allergy has been completely eliminated. However, if the allergy is not treated appropriately, there is a risk of complications. Bronchial asthma in particular occurs more frequently in allergy sufferers.
prevention
Preventive measures are not known. However, it can be observed that children who grow up in the country and thus come into contact with dirt, flowers and animals suffer from allergies less often than children who grow up in cities.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.