Allergic rhinitis is an extremely common condition that is believed to affect 1 in 5 people in the UK and is often referred to as its more popularly used name “hay fever”.
It occurs when a variety of different allergens come in contact with the inside of the nose and causes an inflammation – the symptoms of which are akin to suffering from a cold.
The most common allergens are pollen, dead skin flakes, mould and dust. The derivations of these can be found on our causes of allergic rhinitis page.
Typically allergic rhinitis is seasonal in nature, the symptoms are often mild and they can be treated effectively. However, symptoms can be more severe, they can be occupational in nature which may mean prolonged bouts of allergic rhinitis are suffered and as a consequence there can be complications associated with the condition.
Common initial allergic rhinitis symptoms
If you come into contact with known allergens to which your immune system is hypersensitive you may encounter the following initial symptoms:
- Runny nose
- Itchy nose, eyes, mouth, throat, ears or skin
- Watery eyes
- Sneezing repeatedly
- Difficulties with your sense of smell
Later symptoms
Over time there are symptoms that can occur later after the initial allergen contact. These include –
- Sore throat
- Nasal congestion
- Headache
- Coughing
- Tiredness
- Drowsiness
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Eczema style conditions that include itchy and dry skin
- Hives
- Difficulty sleeping
The symptoms of allergic rhinitis sometimes clear up over time depending on the type and environment but it is unlikely that the condition will ever disappear completely so it is important to seek advice from a suitably qualified medical professional if the symptoms are preventing you from carrying out everyday duties or affecting your work.
Allergic rhinitis complications
Moreover, there are complications that can occur from suffering with allergic rhinitis. Conditions such as the following have been known to develop in some sufferers of allergic rhinitis –
Sinusitis (acute or chronic) – A condition where the sinuses get infected or inflamed. It can be a very painful condition which lead to rather severe facial pain around the nose forehead and cheeks. A build-up of mucus will cause the nose to be either runny or blocked and a sufferer will often have a high temperature (fever).
Nasal Polyps – These are tear shaped fleshy swellings of the lining of the nose or sinuses that can occur as a consequence of allergic rhinitis. They can vary in size and number and are usually yellow, pink or grey. They can sometimes become sufficiently enlarged that they affect breathing and the sense of smell, but they can be treated with a steroid nasal spray unless they are so large that surgery is the only option.
Infections of the middle ear (otitis media) – The nose and the ear are connected by the Eustachian tube so if a bout of allergic rhinitis has caused a problem with the tube, fluid from the nose can gather in the middle ear via the tube, the fluid will often fail to drain away and can then cause an infection in the ear. This will typically result in problems with hearing and balance along with earache and a high temperature.