Allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis means the inside of your nose is inflamed, so it turns red and swollen. This happens because of an allergen, something like pollen, dust, mould, or tiny flakes of skin from certain animals.
It's a very common problem, and most people find it easy to manage with medicines they can simply get from a pharmacist.
Common Symptoms
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
If your allergic rhinitis symptoms get worse, or your asthma worsens too, talk to your GP practice. Do the same if the symptoms are disturbing your sleep or daily life, if you're unsure what's causing them, or if pharmacy treatments aren't helping.
Causes
What causes allergic rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis happens when you breathe in tiny particles that your body reacts to. Some of the most common ones in the air include:
- house dust mites
- pollen and spores
- flakes of animal skin
- wood dust
- flour dust
- latex
If allergies run in your family, you're more likely to develop this condition too.
Diagnosis
Your doctor can usually tell it's allergic rhinitis just from talking with you about your symptoms and any triggers you've noticed. If it's not clear what's causing it, they may send you for allergy testing to find out for sure.
Treatment
Treatment for allergic rhinitis depends on how bad your symptoms are.
Complications
Allergic rhinitis sometimes leads to further problems. These include:
- nasal polyps: soft, non-cancerous (benign) growths that form inside the nose and sinuses
- sinusitis: swelling that blocks the sinuses, so mucus cannot drain into the nose as it normally would
- blockage of the middle ear, caused by a build-up of fluid behind the eardrum
Medication can often treat these problems. In severe or long-term cases, surgery is sometimes needed.