Live Life Team
Perennial allergic rhinitis or indoor allergy is the allergic reaction to the allergens found indoors. These include the mould, pets as well as house dust mites. This leads to the inflammation and irritation of the lining present in the nose, eyes as well as the throat.
The symptoms associated with this condition are
- coughing
- the tightening of the chest
- blocked nose which is runny and itchy.
- shortness while breathing
- the sinuses develop congestion
- the skin becomes itchy and
- headache.
The symptoms worsen in the night and early mornings.
The body feels that dust mites and pets pose danger. So the body starts releasing immunoglobin for attacking the invaders. The white blood cells release histamines which result in the symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis.
Allergic rhinitis is known as permanent cold.
Symptoms
The common symptoms of allergic rhinitis affect the throat, eyes and the nose. It can also cause breathlessness and wheezing.
Perennial allergic rhinitis is characterised by:
- stuffy nose
- blocked nose
- sneezing
- rhinorrhoea or running nose and
- Itchiness of the throat, eyes and nose.
Persons who have asthma, hay fever or eczema have flare ups when they are prone to perennial allergic rhinitis.
Causes
The viruses that cause common cold also cause rhinitis. But it is followed by a secondary bacterial infection.
Allergic rhinitis happens when a person comes into contact with something that triggers the release of histamines.
People who have allergies have a specific type of antibody known as immunoglobulin type E which is produced in abnormally high quantity. These IgEs can be found on the mast cells’ surface.
When an allergen reaching the cell tries to bridge between the IgE molecules, a strain develops on the cell membranes of the mast cells. This in turn ruptures it and the contents of the mast cells are released. The histamines lead to the tightening of the lungs, widening of the arteries and the leaking of the capillaries. This in turn causes the itching of the skin.
Treatment
The treatment which will be most effective for allergic rhinitis is the use of steroid nasal sprays. But the problem associated with this is that they must be used on a regular basis.
Even though decongestants and antihistamines can be used for getting relief from a stuffy or blocked nose, it can be used only for a short time. The decongestants and antihistamines inhibit the effects produced by the histamines. Both decongestants and antihistamines are available as drops, capsules or tablets.
If the allergic rhinitis is so severe that it does not respond to any of the treatment mentioned above, then one may have to visit a doctor and go in for a desensitisation treatment or specific immunotherapy.
Desensitisation helps the people in reducing their sensitivity towards the allergens. Small doses of the allergens are injected over a period of about five years. Slowly the body adjusts and responds in a lesser sensitive way towards the allergens.
