Seasonal Allergies

In the United States, rhinitis is a common condition that affects more than 50 million individuals. The typical symptoms will include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing and nasal itching.

Rhinitis is not caused by allergies alone. When that happens, it is referred to as hay fever or “allergic rhinitis.” This allergic rhinitis could be perennial or seasonal. Nearly 30% of adults and 40% of children are suffering from allergic rhinitis.

The common triggers for seasonal rhinitis can come from grasses, trees or weed pollens. Animal proteins, spores coming from fungi, dust mites and cockroaches are some causes all year round. Patients who are suffering from allergic rhinitis have an increased risk of atopic dermatitis or asthma. A person can easily get sinus, ear or upper respiratory infections from uncontrolled rhinitis.

Medical Treatments

One of the key elements in treating a condition is to establish control over the symptoms. The very first step is to identify the triggers and help reduce exposure toward them. For children, the doctors may send them to an allergist who will evaluate and test their skin to identify the triggers.

Besides avoidance, most individuals will be required to take some medications. One of the most effective single maintenance medications intended for allergic rhinitis are fluticasone or mometasone, which are topical nasal glucocorticoid sprays. Used on a daily basis, these nasal sprays limit the inflammation inside the nose and will decrease the congestion in the nasal cavity.

Other medicines include antihistamines like cetirizine or loratadine, and antileukotrienes such as cromolyn sodium and ipratropium bromide. These will help decrease the symptoms, which exposure to the allergen causes. These medications will be prescribed by only the licensed doctors, however, and will be available for children at only the right age.

Allergy Shots

Some experts think allergy shots are one of the “natural” ways to deal with allergies. They are, however, a medical treatment, which trained doctors who are experienced in immunology prescribe.

These injections, which are also known as allergy vaccines, will actually expose someone to small amounts of the allergen. Tiny amounts are injected initially and increased gradually. Such injections are going to alter the immune system of a person so that they will tolerate larger amounts from the actual allergens.

As time goes by, the body will have a lower sensitivity to allergens, and the need for medicine also may be decreased. These allergic shots will affect the source of the problem directly instead of just treating the symptoms. The shots are going to affect the immune system of a person by training it not to react in a negative way.