How to get rid of allergic rhinitis. Treatment of allergic rhinitis. How to get rid of the disease

Treatment of allergic rhinitis in adults involves the use of various therapies, including: drug therapy (drugs and preparations), folk remedies at home, physiotherapy, vasoconstriction drops, sprays, immunotherapy and compliance with mandatory preventive measures.

The effectiveness of treatment will depend on the specific phase of the disease (remission or exacerbation). First of all, it is necessary to identify the cause of the disease, eliminate the allergen, and on the basis of this, the doctor will determine the correct comprehensive treatment regimen for rhinitis.

In this material, we will consider in detail what is being treated and how to get rid of allergic rhinitis in adults, what are the possible symptoms and causes of the development of pathology, as well as what complications can be during exacerbation. We will find out the forms of the disease and what are the most effective methods of treatment and prevention.

Allergic rhinitis (atopic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis) is a type of pathology in which inflammation of the nasal mucosa occurs in response to an increase in the allergic background. The disease is accompanied by swelling of the inner surface of the nasal passages, itching, sneezing and a large amount of mucous secretions. Allergic rhinitis is an immune disease.

This type of atopic rhinitis in most cases occurs in people who have a genetic predisposition and are prone to all kinds of allergic reactions. Under the influence of an allergen, a person has inflammation in the nasal cavity, causing swelling (runny nose and snot). The causes of the occurrence can be different: a bacterial or viral infection, an allergic reaction or a cold.

As practice shows, rhinitis is a frequent complaint of patients who turn to allergists. The disease in most cases occurs in preschool children, during the period of the child's acquaintance with various substances that can cause allergic rhinitis. But there are cases when the disease manifests itself in adults and treatment will also be necessary.

The prevalence of allergic rhinitis

According to statistics, about 35% of the world's population suffers from rhinitis. But only 60% of the sick turn to doctors for medical help. A person, faced with this form of allergy, tries to cure the disease on his own.

Over the years, the following disease trends have been identified:

  • Every year the number of patients with rhinitis increases;
  • Often sick people aged 18 to 24 years;
  • This pathology is more common in regions that have poor pathology;
  • In different regions of the country, the total number of cases can range from 12% to 24%.

Here we can draw certain conclusions: the problem of allergic rhinitis is more relevant than ever.

Allergic rhinitis is considered one of the most common diseases in the world.

Forms and stages of allergic rhinitis

The classification of allergic rhinitis has changed several times over the years. Recently, atopic rhinitis has been divided into acute, subacute and chronic rhinitis. Today, this classification can be considered obsolete. Now allergists use simpler directions of the disease. Runny nose from allergies can be seasonal, year-round, medical and professional.

Forms of rhinitis:

  • Seasonal (periodic form);
  • Year-round (permanent or chronic);
  • Medical;
  • Professional.

form of allergic rhinitis

According to the severity of allergic manifestations, there are:

  • mild: does not affect the general condition and the symptoms do not bother much (1-2 signs may appear);
  • moderate (moderate): sleep disturbance occurs due to more severe symptoms. During the day, the activity of symptoms decreases;
  • severe: rather painful symptoms, which are accompanied by sleep disturbance, decreased performance. If a child has rhinitis, then his activity at school is reduced.

By duration and frequency, vasomotor allergic rhinitis is divided into:

  • periodic: an allergic process can occur in the spring during the flowering period of various plants and trees;
  • chronic: manifests itself throughout the year, when there is a constant presence of any allergens in the environment. For example, it can be field ticks;
  • intermittent: illness with acute episodes lasts no more than 4 days a week and less than 1 month;
  • persistent allergic rhinitis - the disease accompanies the patient for more than 1 month a year or 4 days a week.

Stages of allergic rhinitis:

  • acute stage: duration up to 4 weeks;
  • chronic stage: the disease continues for more than 4 weeks in a row. Runny nose does not stop at all or repeats after a short period of time.

If you notice allergic rhinitis in yourself or your child, you should start treatment as soon as possible.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis

For the manifestation of a seasonal runny nose, irritants such as pollen from plants and trees act. In some cases, fungal spores may act as allergens. Many patients may believe that a runny nose appears due to poplar fluff. But this is not true. As a rule, rhinitis can be caused by plant pollen, which appears simultaneously with poplar fluff. The seasonality of this form of allergy can vary: it all depends on the region in which the patient lives.

Symptoms are especially pronounced in the morning and a combination of allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis is possible. If the disease is not treated, then a runny nose can lead to irritability, constant fatigue, mental disorders, and headaches.

The severity of symptoms in this case depends on the amount of pollen. It is noticed that during the dry season, the signs of rhinitis are significantly weakened.

Persistent or perennial allergic rhinitis

Often the disease is called chronic allergic rhinitis and this type has many more irritants that cause a constant runny nose. The disease is considered more severe and here the help of an allergist and appropriate treatment are already required. It manifests itself as a result of dust, wool or particles of the epidermis of animals, as well as due to exposure to household chemicals.

Medical specialists will highlight several factors that provoke the appearance of year-round atopic rhinitis:

  • poor ecology where a person lives;
  • dry air with a hot climate;
  • unfavorable living conditions.

If there is no proper treatment of allergic rhinitis, then consequences such as:

  • inflammation of the inner part of the ear;
  • inflammation of the paranasal sinuses of the nasal cavity;
  • the appearance of growths in the nose of a pathological nature.

Occupational rhinitis

As a rule, this form of the disease often manifests itself in adults than in children. Rhinitis occurs due to the specific profession of the patient, when there is constant contact with any kind of dust. For example, in bakers and confectioners, allergies occur as a result of constant contact with flour, in seamstresses with particles of pile, in veterinarians with wool and feathers, etc.

Signs of occupational rhinitis accompany a person throughout the year and it does not depend on the season. Symptoms may improve during weekends or holidays. The disease must be treated, because in the absence of therapy, the disease can develop into bronchial asthma. Allergic rhinitis is still very dangerous and the fact that after a while there is a thinning of the nasal mucosa. Various infections can subsequently easily penetrate through the bloodstream and a person will be forced to change his profession.

Another type of allergic rhinitis, where there is swelling of the nasal mucosa as a result of the abuse of any medications. The allergen can be topical vasoconstrictor drugs: sprays or nasal drops. For several days, drugs can constrict blood vessels, reducing swelling and congestion, but after a couple of weeks, the patient becomes addicted to the drug and the so-called “rebound symptom” may occur - when there is not vasoconstriction, but their expansion. The blood begins to stagnate and as a result, swelling occurs.

Medication rhinitis occurs due to the frequent use of drugs.

In addition to vasoconstrictor drugs, allergic rhinitis can be provoked by drugs that are prescribed to lower blood pressure, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal and psychotropic drugs. A disease of this nature is rarely found in children, as parents in most cases comply with the dosage prescribed to the child.

Allergic rhinitis is a pathology that can accompany a person all his life. If you know the causes of the disease and take the right preventive measures, you can prevent the onset of symptoms. In addition, with proper diagnosis and effective treatment, serious complications can be avoided.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis

If the symptoms of allergic rhinitis in adults do not affect the decline in performance and do not interfere with sleep at night, then we can talk about the manifestation of a mild degree of the disease. With an average degree of rhinitis, there is a moderate decrease in sleep and daytime activity. If rather pronounced symptoms are observed, then the person is no longer able to work or study normally and productively, conduct daytime leisure and sleep normally at night - a severe stage of rhinitis is diagnosed.

Attention!
As allergists say, at the first meeting of a person with an irritating factor, there may not be a pronounced allergic reaction, however, with the next contact with the allergen, it can become much more pronounced.

The main symptoms of allergic rhinitis in an adult:

  • burning and itching in the nose;
  • nasal congestion;
  • watery discharge from the nasal cavity. In the future, mucous secretions become thicker;
  • snoring and sniffling;
  • deterioration of the sense of smell;
  • paroxysmal sneezing;
  • periodic desire to scratch the tip of the nose;
  • voice change;
  • perspiration in the nasopharynx;
  • high sensitivity to strong odors: household and building chemicals, perfumes, tobacco smoke.

With allergic rhinitis of a long nature, additional symptoms may occur. This is due to the constant abundant secretion from the nose and the violation of the patency of the paranasal sinuses and auditory tubes.

Additional symptoms:

  • hearing impairment;
  • coughing;
  • nose bleeding;
  • ear pain;
  • drowsiness.

In addition to local (local) symptoms, non-specific symptoms of a general nature may also appear.
It:

  • headache;
  • impaired concentration of attention;
  • weakness and malaise;
  • bad interrupted sleep.

If you start treating allergic rhinitis in a timely manner, this will lead to the development of other allergic diseases: conjunctivitis (caused by allergies), and then bronchial asthma. To prevent this, effective therapy should be started as soon as possible and only after consultation with an allergist.

Everyone reacts differently to different irritants. For example, in some patients, the manifestation of the reaction occurs within 5-10 minutes after contact with the allergen. And for others, allergies can occur only after 10 hours or more. In addition, the time of manifestation of symptoms may depend on the causes of allergies and provoking factors.

Video about the treatment of rhinitis: methods

What are the causes of allergic rhinitis?

The cause of allergic rhinitis is that there is an inadequate reaction of the human immune system to the ingestion of external particles of a substance into the body. Hypersensitivity to a substance may occur in one person and not in others.

The most common irritants include:

  • particles of skin or animal hair;
  • plant pollen;
  • waste products of microscopic mites that can live in house dust (common symptom);
  • hypersensitivity of the nasal mucosa to various food allergens;
  • fungal spores.

The cause of persistent allergic rhinitis, which lasts for a year, is house dust mites, pets and molds.

Factors provoking the appearance of allergic rhinitis

A person's predisposition to an allergic reaction can be increased if he has chronic inflammatory diseases in the nose, throat or ear. If there is a tendency to long-term colds and frequent viral infections, the risk of getting rhinitis is also high.

The environmental factors include:

  • strong tobacco smoke;
  • air pollution;
  • high concentration of dust in the premises;
  • constant presence of pets.

Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis

A doctor can diagnose allergic rhinitis based on the history, the detection of an allergen to which the body reacted, and the patient's own complaints.

When carrying out diagnostic measures, it is very important to correctly identify exactly those irritating factors that led to the launch of a negative reaction of the body. It is possible to establish a probable circle of cross allergens: these are similar products or substances. Allergic rhinitis can only be treated after a correct diagnosis has been made.

Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in adults and children is carried out by an allergist or an otolaryngologist. Each of the specialists must make sure that the symptoms that have arisen were not caused by some abnormal structures of the nasal cavity itself. During the examination, it is necessary to immediately exclude the presence of any bends, growths, spikes, curvature in the sick person.

After that, the doctor must determine whether the patient has a possible infection that led to the disease. These data can be obtained by the symptoms that have arisen, present in the patient. In addition, it is necessary to find out what type of disease a person has: seasonal, chronic, occupational or drug-induced rhinitis and which allergen is involved in the disease.

For the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is carried out:

  1. Clinical blood tests for the level of mast and plasma cells, eosinophils, leukocytes, specific and total IgE antibodies.
  2. Instrumental techniques: endoscopy, rhinoscopy, computed tomography, acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry.
  3. Skin testing to determine the cause of the allergy. This helps to determine the nature of allergic rhinitis.
  4. Histological and cytological examination of secretions in the nasal cavity.

The most important thing in the treatment of allergic rhinitis is to identify the cause of the allergy and eliminate contact with the allergen.

Perennial allergic rhinitis: what to do?

A year-round runny nose, which is caused by an allergic reaction, manifests itself throughout the year. Such a diagnosis is made by doctors if the runny nose worsens at least twice a day and for nine months a year.

In such situations, experts advise to adhere to some recommendations:

- completely stop smoking;

- clear the nose of mucus;
– regularly beat out pillows and blankets;
- every week to carry out wet cleaning in residential premises;
- ventilate the bed;
- avoid, if possible, self-rinsing of the nose;
- do not use drops from the common cold;
- use bedding made of synthetic material;
– remove things that can be sources of house dust.

As a rule, the basis of this disease is an increased concentration of an allergen, which affects the human body for a very long time.

What are the complications of allergic rhinitis?

If this pathology is not treated, then rhinitis begins to undergo certain stages of change and after some time spreads from the nose to the lower respiratory tract, and this leads to bronchial asthma. As a result, allergic pollen begins to cause shortness of breath.

Also, with hay fever, other complications can occur, these are:
- angina;
- cough;
- itching in the throat, ear, nasal mucosa;
- general apathetic state;
- problems with concentration;
- allergic reaction on the skin: swelling, redness;
- sleep disturbance;
- impaired hearing, taste, smell.

Attention!
The main complication of allergic rhinitis is an asthma attack. Those people who suffer from allergies in one form or another are at a higher risk of developing asthma than those who are not allergic to pollen. According to statistics, about 80% of asthma patients have an increased sensitivity to an allergic reaction. But if you start treatment of allergic rhinitis in a timely manner, then the risk of asthma can be reduced to a minimum.

Treatment of allergic rhinitis

To cure allergic rhinitis, you need to identify the allergen and make an accurate diagnosis, as well as determine the list of substances that could potentially be allergens for the patient.
Subsequently, effective treatment is carried out, which is aimed at solving some problems:

  1. Remove swelling and inflammation of the nasal mucosa.
  2. Eliminate reactions to the influence of allergens. As a rule, allergen-specific therapy is carried out.
  3. Organize a hypoallergenic life and minimize contact with irritants.
  4. Implement patient education programs.

Medical treatment

Therapy of allergic rhinitis necessarily involves the use of medication, which is selected by a doctor. Only a doctor can know how to effectively get rid of the disease in a particular case for each patient.

It is worth recognizing that it is almost impossible to completely cure allergic rhinitis, since in modern life a person can no longer be protected from all existing allergens. But using various medicines for this disease, you can eliminate the resulting symptoms.

To date, allergists for the treatment of rhinitis of allergic origin use the following groups of drugs:

- antihistamines;
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- immunomodulators;
- vasoconstrictor.

According to the place of impact, they can be divided into:

- local: ointments, sprays, drops;
- systemic: injection solutions, tablets, etc.

Some drugs can be used for quite a long time, while others only in a certain course, for about 5-10 days. The selection of a drug against allergic rhinitis and the duration of the course will depend on the form of the person's disease, individual tolerance and characteristics of the organism. Remember, if you ignore the disease and use only folk remedies for treatment (they only relieve symptoms), this will lead to serious complications, for example, bronchial asthma.

Antihistamines for rhinitis


The drug "Cetrin"

Antihistamines by mouth are almost always used to treat allergic rhinitis in adults or children. It is advised to use second and third generation drugs. The second generation includes: "Zodak", "Tsetrin", "Claritin". The third generation of drugs is Zirtek, Erius, Telfast.

People who suffer from allergic rhinitis are shown oral intake of Loratadine or Cetrin 1 tablet per day. Preparations "Cetrin", "Zodak" and "Parlazin" can be given to children in syrup from 2 years old, not earlier. The most powerful antihistamine drug is Erius, the active ingredient Deslortadin, which is strictly contraindicated in pregnant women. In syrup, the drug "Deslortadine" can be given to children older than 1 year.

Attention!
The duration of treatment should be determined by specialists, but rarely less than 14 days. These tablets have practically no hypnotic effect, they can effectively relieve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis in 15-20 minutes. In addition, the drugs have a prolonged action.

Glucocorticosteroid drugs against allergies

Such drugs simultaneously have anti-inflammatory and antihistamine effects and can be used at any stage of treatment. In a fairly short time, they are able to stop the manifestation of pathology. For example, nasal drops based on glucocorticosteroids for rhinitis can be prescribed to patients who have an average severity of the disease and can be used for a long time.

If a severe stage of rhinitis is observed or bronchial asthma is diagnosed, then the doctor selects those drugs that have a high content of hormones. Such drugs give the maximum effect on about 7-10 days of use. That is why, if there is no effect, treatment should be continued. Such drugs are sold in pharmacies in the form of a spray for allergic rhinitis. The advantage of such drugs is that they have a local effect and are not able to penetrate into the patient's blood.

Vasoconstrictor drugs

Vasoconstrictor (vasoconstrictor) drugs are used to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease. They are able to cause spasm in the vessels and due to this they are less filled with blood and, therefore, swell less. In a short time, breathing improves and nasal congestion is removed.

If this is a seasonal rhinitis, then such drugs should be prescribed in courses of about 10 days. In most cases, the doctor prescribes drugs before using other drugs in order to preliminarily relieve swelling so that other drugs can easily penetrate the nasal cavity (for example, drops).

At the moment, pharmacies have vasoconstrictor sprays and nasal drops. In order to prevent the nasal mucosa from drying out, it is advisable to irrigate with slightly salted water or use medicines that contain sea salt.

Anti-inflammatory drugs to eliminate allergies

Such drugs for allergic rhinitis can have a membrane-stabilizing effect. In this case, the release of mucosal mediators stops. These drugs have a high cumulative effect and are often used in chronic disease or about 2 weeks before a possible seasonal exacerbation. Anti-inflammatory drugs are available both in drops and in tablets. For example, Ketotifen.

Immunomodulators

You can use homeopathic remedies or dietary supplements for allergic rhinitis. This type of medication is usually prescribed in a course and used for more than 14 days. You should not use such drugs if the patient has a reaction due to a plant allergen.

Immunomodulators have almost the same efficiency. However, in order to achieve the desired effect, the remedy should be selected exclusively by a specialist and it is not worth treating rhinitis on your own in this case.

Immunotherapy

At the moment, the treatment of allergic rhinitis with immunotherapy is one of the most common. The method consists in injecting the patient with a small dose of the allergen directly into the body. After some time, the dose is slightly increased. Thanks to this, immunity is trained so that the body will be more susceptible to the allergen.

Now there are new generation drugs that are designed for a course of 12-42 sessions carried out in one season.

Hormonal drugs against allergies

Hormonal drugs can give a positive effect in a fairly short time. They are used locally and do not pose a threat to the health of the patient. New generation drugs have low bioavailability. Hormones are not able to penetrate the nasal mucosa. Such therapy is aimed at reducing swelling and reducing the body's sensitivity to an irritant.

Drops and sprays for the treatment of allergic rhinitis

In the treatment of atopic rhinitis, an allergist can prescribe all kinds of drops and sprays. These funds are used only in case of exacerbation of the disease. As a rule, inhaled drugs can only have a preventive effect, rather than a therapeutic one. The duration of such a course is at least 7-10 days.

Drops and sprays experts recommend using for the treatment of pediatric patients. If an adult is ill, then they are used mainly for mild exacerbation. Sprays and drops are great for treating chronic rhinitis. With proper dosing and use, nasal swelling can be reduced, as a film is formed in the nasal cavity, which will protect the mucous membrane from penetration of the allergen.


Drops and sprays in the treatment of allergic rhinitis

Phonophoresis. Before conducting a treatment session, the doctor lubricates the sensor with hydrocortisone. After that, with smooth movements, he leads them along the mucous membrane in the nasal cavity. Hydrocortisone is necessary in order to conduct ultrasound through it into the deeper layers. The advantage of this type of physiotherapy is that it has practically no indications.

Laser therapy with allergic rhinitis. To treat rhinitis with a laser, the allergist uses special tubes that are placed in the nose during the session. Radiation with the help of a laser begins to act on the nasal mucosa, strengthening it, and the swelling goes away.

Acupressure

Acupressure massage for allergic rhinitis is one of the most effective methods of treating pathology. When the first signs and symptoms of the disease appear, the sensitivity of the reflexogenic zones increases greatly. If you press on them, the patient may feel some discomfort. You can do acupressure at home, but for this you need to first visit a professional massage therapist. He will explain the correct massage technique and how to properly conduct a treatment session. Massage can be done in the morning and evening before going to bed.

Surgery for the treatment of rhinitis

Surgery for allergic rhinitis will not be able to cure the disease, but the surgeon can correct some nasal defects that may be an obstacle to effective therapy. Surgery may be required as a last resort, when drug therapy has failed to give the desired results.


Treatment of allergic rhinitis with folk remedies

It is possible to treat allergic rhinitis with folk remedies only if the disease has a mild form and has not passed into the chronic stage. Remember that many plants can be quite strong allergens.

Attention!
To determine how a particular plant acts on the body, you need to apply it in a minimal amount for several days.

The main popular recipes from traditional medicine:

- A decoction of elecampane. In 200 ml. water pour 2 teaspoons of crushed dry roots of elecampane. Boil the broth for about 10 minutes. Then strain and take half a cup twice a day. The course is designed for 2 weeks;
- A mixture of lemon and horseradish. Grind the ingredients and then mix in equal parts. You can also add some honey. Take the prepared mixture 1 teaspoon twice a day, about 30 minutes before meals;
- A decoction of raspberry roots. About 100 grams of dry raspberries pour 1 liter of water. Boil for 30 minutes, then cool and strain. A quarter cup of decoction taken 3 times a day before meals. The course of treatment is at least 2 weeks; 2. Constantly do wet cleaning in rooms and beat out carpets with pillows, soft toys, etc.

Allergic rhinitis in a child is not a fatal disease. But it can provoke the development of bronchial asthma and other pathologies of ENT organs. To prevent this from happening, it is important to identify the symptoms in time and begin treatment of allergic rhinitis in a child.

The international code for allergic rhinitis according to ICD-10 is J30. But if such a runny nose turned into asthma, its coding according to the classification of diseases is different - J45. This disease is often called hay fever or hay fever. At the age of up to 3 years, such allergies are almost never recorded in crumbs. The incidence increases in children attending kindergarten by the age of 4–5 years. But parents do not always immediately recognize the symptoms, they treat cough, SARS, conjunctivitis. And allergic rhinitis requires complex therapy. When, after five years after the manifestation, without proper treatment, the child is taken to see a doctor, it is likely that chronic allergic rhinitis can be diagnosed. If a baby with allergic rhinitis is treated at the first symptoms of the disease, it will be possible to avoid its transformation into asthma or allergic conjunctivitis in children.

There are three types of this disease:

  1. Acute episodic allergorinitis. The reasons are contact with allergens transmitted by airborne droplets. It appears at any age. Even a monthly baby can have a reaction to an irritant. Most often, the allergen is substances in cat saliva, waste products of dust mites;
  2. Seasonal allergorinitis. The reasons are the effect of active substances that appear depending on the season. Appears at 3-4 years of age. Allergens are pollen of flowering trees, cereals, weeds, and mold fungi.
  3. Year-round (or persistent) allergic rhinitis. Persistent reactive response to allergen exposure. It manifests itself in the first 2-3 years of the baby's life. Allergens are household and food allergens, insects, mold fungi.

According to the type of exposure, vasomotor allergic rhinitis and infectious-allergic rhinitis are distinguished. In the first case, the disease manifests itself both seasonally and year-round. It is caused by insects, plant pollen, fungal spores, household dust. In the second case, the disease is caused by pathological bacteria. This type of rhinitis often manifests itself against the background of dirty and dry air or vitamin deficiency.

Signs of allergic rhinitis

Perennial allergic rhinitis is characterized by persistent nasal congestion and difficulty breathing, especially if the room is smoky or very dry.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis has more vivid signs:

  • Excessive snottyness;
  • Intolerable nasal itching;
  • repeated sneezing;
  • Burning eyes and dark circles around them;
  • Headache.

In some cases, the child has a slight fever, a dry cough appears. Coughing indicates the development of concomitant allergic pharyngitis, laryngitis. There may be swelling and redness of the eyelids and skin over the upper lip and at the wings of the nose, as well as bleeding due to attempts to clear the nose.

Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis

The diagnosis of "allergic rhinitis" is not so easy to establish. It is important to differentiate it from other ailments, such as adenoiditis. Although adenoids can also be in a baby with allergorinitis. Often the disease is confused with the usual acute respiratory infections, taking cough, snot and reddened eyes for signs of a cold. However, with rhinitis, symptoms appear immediately after contact with allergens, and the signs of SARS increase in the first days of the disease. In addition, with allergies, the temperature does not rise much. If the body temperature does not exceed 37.5 degrees, most likely it is allergic rhinitis. Is the temperature above 38 degrees? It's most likely an ARI.

How to determine that the baby is suffering from hay fever? Of course, only professionals can recognize such subtleties.

The doctor will conduct a diagnostic examination, find out if there are allergies in the family - such children have a much higher risk of getting the disease. And then he will appoint the necessary studies and allergy tests.

This is, first of all, a blood test for the concentration of eosinophils, plasma and mast cells, leukocytes and IgE antibodies.
Additional methods of examining a patient for allergic rhinitis and adenoids are radiography of the bones of the face, endoscopy of the nasal cavity and pharynx to detect pathological changes. An allergist may prescribe special tests to determine a specific allergen. In difficult cases, computed tomography or MRI is performed.

Allergen skin tests (allergotest)

Treatment of allergic rhinitis in children

What to do if a child is diagnosed with an illness? The medical protocol for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, there are four main areas of work with patients:

  • patient education;
  • Elimination (exclusion) of irritants;
  • Pharmaceutical therapy;
  • specific immunotherapy.

According to the famous pediatrician Komarovsky, allergic rhinitis in children can be completely cured only if the allergen is accurately identified. Then it is easier to choose the right drugs and establish a therapeutic course.

Suitable pharmaceutical preparations

Most often, to help the child, a spray or nasal drops are prescribed to eliminate the external manifestations of the disease and inhibition of inflammatory processes. The spray is more convenient than nasal drops, it is easier and more effective to use. Moreover, nose drops are not recommended to drip crumbs up to a year.

A liquid pharmaceutical preparation must be selected depending on the spectrum of action:

In addition to drops, doctors can also offer a tablet remedy for allergic rhinitis. For example, modern antihistamine pharmaceuticals: Claritin, Zyrtec, Ketotifen. The membrane-stabilizing effect of the latter protects the mucosal tissue from destruction.

With moderate illness, mast cell stabilizers are used (Nedocromil, Lekrolin, Kromoglin, Kromosol and Kromoheksal). Such funds prevent the immediate manifestations of allergies. One of the popular medicines for various diseases of the respiratory tract is Singulair.

"Singulair" refers to blockers of leukotriene receptors. The active substance in the pharmaceutical relieves respiratory spasm, so "Singular" is used to treat bronchial asthma. But "Singular" is also useful for allergic rhinitis. Chewable tablets should not be given to children under two years of age. It is important to know that Singulair does not cure adenoids. Its action is directed to receptors located in the bronchi. And the adenoids are in the nasopharynx.

How to cure allergic rhinitis, homeopathy will also tell you. For homeopathic treatment, drugs such as Natrium muriaticum, Arsenium iodatum, Corizalia, Sinupret, Sabadilla, Euphorbium compositum, Dulcamara, Rinital are suitable.

Specific immunotherapy, hypoallergenic regimen and diet

Children suffering from allergic rhinitis need a special lifestyle and certain nutrition. They need to limit contact with animals and flowering plants, use pillows and blankets without down, feathers and wool, hypoallergenic laundry and bathing products.

With allergic rhinitis, a treatment method such as specific immunotherapy is often used, that is, the introduction of microdoses of the allergen according to a special scheme. This helps to reduce the sensitivity of the body and train the immune system. But this type of therapy is long-term. In addition, it is important to clearly identify the type of allergen.

Diet in allergic rhinitis is especially important if the reaction is to food. But even with allergies to other substances, certain foods should be avoided:

  1. ALLERGEN: Tree pollen. Cross-allergy can be on nuts, fruits (most often apples), carrots, parsley, celery;
  2. ALLERGEN: Pollen from cereals. Cross-allergy can be on flour and bread products, including kvass, oatmeal, coffee and cocoa, smoked sausage;
  3. ALLERGEN: Weed pollen. Cross-allergy can be on melon, zucchini, eggplant and watermelon, sunflower seeds, halva, sunflower oil, mustard, mayonnaise;
  4. ALLERGEN: Molds and yeasts. Cross-allergy can be on kvass, cheeses, yeast dough, sauerkraut, cabbage and other fermented foods.

The manifestation of allergy symptoms is also possible after the use of drugs and cosmetics containing plant extracts.

Therapy with folk remedies

Traditional medicine also knows how to treat allergic rhinitis in children. But you can use prescription drugs only after consulting with your doctor. Indeed, many folk remedies themselves are able to provoke one or another type of allergy.

What folk remedies can be used:

  1. Eggshell. The shell is crushed to a powdery state, after breakfast, lunch and dinner they give the crumbs a pinch of powder moistened with a couple of drops of lemon juice.
  2. Apple vinegar. Two small spoons of apple cider vinegar are dissolved in 250 ml of warm water and flavored with a spoonful of honey. Give the baby 80 ml three times a day.
  3. Salt solution. Dilute a pinch of salt (can be sea) in 250 ml of boiled water. Twice a day, the child's nose is washed with this remedy.

So that the baby does not have rhinitis, the expectant mother should take care of this in advance. During pregnancy, it is better to exclude highly allergenic foods, convince all family members to quit smoking. After the birth of the baby, if possible, breastfeed him for at least six months. It is not difficult to use these safe folk remedies. But it is still better to consult with your doctor.

Protecting a child from allergic rhinitis is not always easy. At the first symptoms of the disease, you should contact an allergist-immunologist. To avoid the occurrence of complications, you must strictly adhere to his recommendations, even if the therapy lasts several months. And in serious cases, when the temperature rises, the baby turns red and suffocates, urgently call an ambulance.

Remember that only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis, do not self-medicate without consultation and diagnosis by a qualified doctor. Be healthy!

In recent decades, allergic reactions in the population have been very widespread. According to statistics, 8-12% of the world's inhabitants suffer from various forms of allergies, which most often develop in 10-20 years.

Allergic rhinitis is one of the options for an inadequate reaction of the body to various external stimuli - pollen from flowering plants, insect bites, molds and yeasts, mites in library, house dust, various toxic or flavored chemicals in household chemicals, household items, and internal irritants certain foods or medicines.

What to do if a child or an adult has a seasonal or year-round rhinitis? How to treat allergic rhinitis, what drugs, medicines, drops, sprays? It is impossible to endure constant nasal congestion, sneezing, tickling and itching in the nose, lacrimation, this affects the mood, the state of the nervous system, disrupts the usual way of life and reduces efficiency. In addition, the constant long-term course of allergic rhinitis, the symptoms of which are pronounced, can provoke the occurrence of nosebleeds, nasal polyps, otitis media and sinusitis, severe impairment of smell and bronchial asthma.

Signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis in children and adults

In allergic rhinitis, symptoms begin to appear after contact with the allergen, if it is animal hair, then after being in a room with pets, when using wool blankets, down pillows, prolonged sneezing attacks occur, they may appear at the time of contact with the allergen or after some that time, usually in the morning.

If it is pollinosis, then it can occur at any time when trees or weeds bloom - from spring to autumn. Moreover, a characteristic sign of allergic rhinitis in children and adults is the resulting transverse fold on the nose, which occurs from frequent scratching of the nose with incessant itching.

A person with perennial allergic rhinitis may have a permanently stuffy nose and only need to breathe through their mouth. This leads to chronic stagnant processes, loss of taste and smell, complicated by the addition of a secondary infection with severe swelling of the mucosa and blockage of the paranasal sinuses.

Also, a frequent companion of allergic rhinitis is lacrimation, discomfort in the eyes, itching, redness of the conjunctiva of the eyes - allergic conjunctivitis, swelling of the face, it is also possible to appear, which in the future can provoke the development of bronchial asthma.

When examined by an otolaryngologist, the nasal mucosa is loose and pale, nasal discharge is most often watery. There are usually no significant changes in the pharynx, but sometimes the development of chronic pharyngitis, tonsillitis is also possible. With seasonal rhinitis, serious complications usually do not occur.

Persons suffering from allergic rhinitis are very sensitive to various chemical odors, to perfumes, cosmetics, tobacco smoke, to the smells of household chemicals, washing powders, new furniture, pungent smells of new carpets and other industrial products with fumes of harmful substances (see. ).

Why the population has recently experienced various such phenomena so often is still not clear, there are only theoretical guesses. The main of which is the use of chlorinated water, unfavorable ecology, increased radioactive background, harmful chemicals in foods, antibiotics in meat, pesticides and nitrates in vegetables and fruits, the use of a mass of drugs - all this prepares the body for an allergic response to seemingly harmless irritants. .

The mechanism of the occurrence of an allergic reaction is well studied and known:

  • If the level of immunoglobulins E is high, a delayed-type reaction occurs
  • Upon initial contact with the allergen, mast cells are prepared, and upon repeated contact, they are destroyed with the release of histamine and similar mediators, they increase the permeability of cell walls to plasma - hence itching, swelling and liquid discharge from the nose.
  • In children, even at the first contact with the allergen, due to the peculiarities of the complement system, which is inherited from parents and which immediately destroys mast cells.

Variants of the course of allergic rhinitis

  • Intermittent: manifestations of the disease less than 4 days a week or no longer than 4 weeks
  • Persistent: more than 4 days and longer than 4 weeks.

The severity of pathology is determined by the number and severity of its manifestations.

  • With mild rhinitis, sleep is not disturbed, normal daily activity is maintained, and symptoms are mild.
  • Moderate or severe rhinitis disrupts sleep and activity during the daytime, makes work and learning difficult.

An example of the formulation of the diagnosis: Allergic rhinitis, persistent course, moderate, period of exacerbation. Sensitization to ragweed pollen.

Non-drug treatment of allergic rhinitis

What to do if an allergy occurs, how to treat allergic rhinitis in children and adults?

Food can increase cross-allergic reactions

Depending on what time of the year an allergy to plant pollen occurs, it is possible to determine the flowering of which herbs or trees causes irritation of the mucous membrane. This should be known in order to exclude from the daily diet those foods that cause cross-allergies. At certain times of the year, for example, in spring, when birch, poplar, hazel, etc., bloom, for example, you cannot eat pears, apples, potatoes, honey, parsley, etc., from August to October - ambrosia, quinoa bloom, then the diet should exclude honey, mayonnaise, cabbage, watermelons, etc. ().

Creating comfortable indoor air

The state of the respiratory system and the general condition of the body of an allergic person largely depends on the type of air in the room in which a person is most of the time, sleeping or working. For example, the abundance of carpet products, various “dust collectors”, open bookshelves, soft toys, porous wallpaper, heavy curtains - creates additional conditions for the accumulation of dust, allergens, bacteria, toxic substances. It is advisable during the flowering period of plants to carry out daily wet cleaning, use humidifiers and air purifiers with anti-allergic filters to create comfortable air.

If you are allergic to pet hair, you will have to part with your pets. The acquisition of Sphynco cats does not solve this problem either. Compensating for the absence of a woolen allergenic cover with powerful allergenic saliva. The aquarium is also not safe - after all, you usually have to feed the fish with dried plankton, which can be a strong allergen.

Contact restriction

Of course, it is easier to deal with allergy manifestations when the cause, the source of the allergy, is known. To determine it, you should take skin tests from an allergist or donate blood for various allergens. Knowing the enemy by sight, you can try to limit contact with him if it is food, do not eat them, if pollen causes allergies, the ideal way is to go to the sea during the flowering season of allergenic herbs and plants.

Plasmapheresis

According to the doctor's indications, it is possible to carry out mechanical cleaning of the blood from immune complexes, allergens, toxins. This method has some contraindications and unfortunately has a short-term effect, but in severe cases of allergic reactions it is very effective.

Medications to treat allergic rhinitis

Unfortunately, all allergic rhinitis medications are used only to alleviate symptoms - reduce runny nose, reduce swelling, nasal congestion, tearing and itching. Until now, medicine does not know how to get rid of allergies forever, since the deep causes and triggers of such an inadequate reaction of the body's immune system are not known.

Therefore, all drugs, sprays, are used as symptomatic agents that dull the manifestations of allergies, but which cannot change the body's response to the allergen. What can the pharmaceutical industry offer today for the treatment of allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis medications - antihistamines

With a mild degree of the disease, it is enough to take antihistamines. In recent years, the production of 2nd and 3rd generation drugs, such as Zirtek, Zodak, Erius, has reduced the strong sedative effect of this group of drugs, they do not have such side effects as 1st generation drugs - urinary retention, arrhythmia, blurred vision. These practically do not have a hypnotic effect, have a prolonged effect and effectively relieve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis within 20 minutes after ingestion. Those suffering from allergic rhinitis are shown oral administration of Cetrin or Loratadine, 1 tab. in a day. Cetrin, Parlazin, Zodak can be taken by children from 2 years old in syrup. The most powerful antihistamine drug today is Erius, the active ingredient Desloratadine, which is contraindicated in pregnancy, and in syrup can be taken by children over 1 year old.

Hormonal preparations - sprays, drops from allergic rhinitis

Intranasal glucocorticoids, such as Flikosanze, Budesonide, are prescribed by a doctor only for severe allergies, when treatment with antihistamines does not work.

The use of various hormonal internasal sprays, such as Aldecin, Nasobek, Flixonase, Nasonex, Benorin, Baconase, Nazarel, should only be prescribed by a doctor, these drugs are undesirable for children and the elderly. Local hormonal agents have almost no systemic effect, but with prolonged use, with an overdose, they can slowly destroy the metabolic and immune processes in the body, contribute to a decrease in adrenal function, the development of diabetes mellitus, etc. abruptly stop the use of hormones, as a drug withdrawal syndrome occurs.

Medications - leukotriene antagonists

In moderate to severe allergic rhinitis, treatment can be supplemented with leukotriene antagonist drugs, such as Singulair, Accolate.

Vasoconstrictor drops for allergic rhinitis

The abuse of these drugs is unacceptable in allergic rhinitis. They can be used to reduce swelling of the nasopharynx, reduce mucus, but not more than 5 days, or only in rare cases. Such drops from allergic rhinitis include Naphthyzin, Galazolin, Tizin, Nazol, Vibrocil. They do not have a therapeutic effect, but only facilitate breathing.

Nazaval and Prevalin

Nazaval is a microdispersed powder of cellulose and garlic, this is a new agent that prevents the penetration of aeroallergens through the nasal cavity into the body. Microdisperse powder of cellulose from the spray dispenser is sprayed onto the mucous membrane of the nasal passages, forming a strong gel-like film with the mucus. This provides a natural barrier to the entry of pollutants and allergens into the body. The product is approved for use by pregnant women, children from birth. Method of application - 3-4 r / day, 1 injection in each nasal passage. Another new drug, Prevalin, is a mixture of emulsifiers and oils that creates a barrier to allergens, which should be used as early as possible, preferably before the onset of allergic rhinitis.

Hyposensitization to certain allergens

Hyposensitizing therapy is widely used in cases where the exact allergen that causes allergic rhinitis in a patient is known. If antihistamines are not effective enough or are contraindicated, doses of allergen extract are injected under the skin of the patient, gradually increasing them, such treatment can last up to 5 years, with weekly administration of allergens. However, this method of therapy is contraindicated in people with bronchial asthma or cardiovascular diseases.

Allergic Rhinitis Sprays - Mast Cell Membrane Stabilizers

Antiallergic drugs, allergic rhinitis sprays include drugs such as Kromoheksal, Kromoglin, Kromosol. They prevent the occurrence of allergic reactions of the immediate type, they are used for mild manifestations of allergies.

Other sprays

Allergodil nasal spray is very effective in allergic rhinitis - a blocker of histamine H1 receptors, the active ingredient is Azelastine. However, its use during pregnancy and children under 6 years of age is not recommended.

Enterosorbents

Also, with allergic rhinitis, treatment with enterosorbents has a positive effect - Polyphepan, Enterosgel,) these are agents that help to remove toxins, allergens from the body, which can be used in the complex therapy of allergic manifestations. It should be remembered that their use should be no more than 2 weeks, and the intake should be carried out separately from other medicines and vitamins, since their effect and absorption are reduced.

Treatment regimens for allergic rhinitis

  • For mild rhinitis it is enough to stop the action of the allergen, give the patient antihistamines by mouth (tablets, syrup, drops) and vasoconstrictors in the nose for five days.
  • Intermittent rhinitis moderate severity will require longer therapy (up to a month) and the addition of glucocorticoids in nasal drops. The same tactics are followed in the treatment of persistent (permanent) rhinitis.
  • If after therapy within a month remission is not achieved, the diagnosis is revised (exclude ENT pathology, for example, sinusitis), increase the use of glucocorticoids.

Alternative treatment of allergic rhinitis

Unfortunately, the body's allergic reactions cannot be cured by any folk remedies, since most of the grandmother's recipes for healing the body consist of herbal medicinal preparations, tinctures, and decoctions. If a child or an adult, for example, has hay fever, how to treat allergic rhinitis with folk remedies, to which he may be allergic? No way. You can only aggravate the condition and add allergens to the body.

Allergic rhinitis: causes, symptoms and treatment in adults

Rhinitis, or runny nose, is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa. It can be caused by various reasons: a viral or bacterial infection, an allergic reaction.

Usually rhinitis is accompanied by swelling of the inner surface of the nasal passages, sneezing, itching and an increase in the amount. Allergic form of rhinitis is an immune disease.

In this article, we will consider all the features, symptoms, causes of this particular form of the disease. Here you will find information on what to do and how to get rid of allergic rhinitis.

What is allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis is an allergic reaction of the immediate type (type I allergy).

When pollen is in contact with the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes or respiratory tract, the body reacts immediately and develops the corresponding allergic symptoms (difficulty breathing, sneezing, etc.).

Causes of allergic rhinitis

In the case of allergic rhinitis, or as it is also called, the reason lies in the inadequate response of the human immune system to the ingestion of particles of an external substance (allergen) into the body. Hypersensitivity (increased sensitivity of the body to a substance) can manifest itself to the same substances that do not cause any reaction in other people.

The role of irritants can be:

  • plant pollen;
  • hair and skin particles of some animals (cats, dogs, etc.);
  • mold spores;
  • waste products of microscopic mites contained in house dust (often cause allergy symptoms).

There is also an increased reaction of the mucous membranes to, in which case an allergic rhinitis may also appear, among other painful manifestations.

Factors provoking the occurrence of allergic rhinitis

The predisposition to the occurrence of allergic rhinitis or increases if a person has chronic inflammatory diseases in the ear, throat and nose. Those who are prone to lingering colds and frequent viral infections are also at increased risk. Environmental factors:

  • severe air pollution;
  • tobacco smoke;
  • abundance of dust in the premises;
  • constant presence of animals.

The likelihood of allergic rhinitis increases if there is a hereditary predisposition (one of the parents or both are prone to allergic reactions).

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis

The appearance of an allergic rhinitis is characterized by certain symptoms. Some of them can appear almost immediately, within 4 to 8 hours, while others after 2 days or even weeks from the onset of the disease.

According to allergists, at the first meeting of a person with an irritating substance, noticeable allergic reaction may not occur, but during the next contact with the allergen, it will become more pronounced.

In most cases, the symptoms of allergic rhinitis are as follows:

  • repeated sneezing. Usually it immediately occurs when the allergen enters the nasal mucosa;
  • itching in the nose, perspiration in the nasopharynx. These manifestations are also very pronounced, and it is at the very beginning of the disease;
  • increased secretion of mucus from the nose. In the beginning it is a very thin, watery discharge. In the future, mucous secretions become thicker;
  • lacrimation, itching and;
  • nasal congestion, inability to breathe through the nose, impaired sense of smell;
  • hypersensitivity to strong odors: household and building chemicals, perfumes, tobacco smoke;
  • dry cough, which joins later;
  • weakness, drowsiness, chills and high fatigue (phenomena are characteristic in the later stages of the disease). This is how the general allergic reaction of the body manifests itself;
  • stuffy ears, hearing impairment are also characteristic of chronic allergic rhinitis.

Forms and stages of allergic rhinitis

For a disease such as allergic rhinitis, two main forms are characteristic:

  • periodic (seasonal);
  • permanent (year-round).

The difference between them is that in the seasonal form, the allergen is of plant origin and is released during the flowering of certain types of flowers or trees. In the chronic form, the irritant is present in human life (dust mites, mold, animals) and the disease may not stop all year round.

There is also a mixed form, in which chronic rhinitis is expressed year-round in an erased form and is amenable to drug control, and worsens in the summer season.

There are the following stages of the disease:

  • acute - allergic rhinitis lasts up to 4 weeks;
  • chronic - manifestations of the disease last longer than 4 weeks in a row. They do not stop at all, or an unstable remission occurs, and then a repetition.

The annual recurrence of symptoms of allergic rhinitis for more than 4 weeks is also considered a chronic course of the disease.

Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis

At the very beginning, to establish a diagnosis, the doctor conducts a detailed survey of the patient. This is how an anamnesis is collected about the course of the disease and all the factors accompanying its development, the individual characteristics of the reaction to various substances, as well as the methods of treatment that were previously undertaken at home.

The hereditary factor, which is very important in the diagnosis of any allergic diseases, is also being investigated.

In the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, it is of great importance to identify precisely those irritating substances that trigger a negative immune reaction. Thus, a possible circle of cross allergens (similar products and substances that can also negatively affect a person) is established. Treatment of allergic rhinitis begins only after an accurate diagnosis has been established.

Proven diagnostic methods, the most popular at the moment:

  • Skin test(). This simple method is often used, but its error is quite large. The bottom line is that with the help of a special tool a small scratch is made on the skin of a person, into which a substance is introduced - an allergen. After 15 minutes, you can evaluate the result. In the case of a positive reaction, the test site will turn red, there will be slight swelling and itching.
  • Immunoblotting. This is an analysis of the reaction of human blood antibodies to molecules of an irritating substance. It is carried out in laboratory conditions. Pretty accurate diagnostic method.
  • Microscopic examination of smears. For this analysis, smears of mucous secretions taken from a patient during an exacerbation of allergic rhinitis are stained with special preparations and examined under a microscope.
  • Allergen-specific immunoglobulin (IgE) test. A blood test for an increase in the level of class E immunoglobulins when exposed to various alleged allergen substances.
  • Provocative analysis method(rarely used). The patient is injected with a small amount of a substance that can potentially cause an allergic reaction. If the result is negative, the dose is gradually increased. Such a study is used only in stationary conditions.

Complications

If the disease is not treated, allergic rhinitis usually goes through a phase of change, over time, the allergy moves from the nose and eyes to the lower respiratory tract, leading to allergic. As a result, allergic pollen will cause.

In addition, many other complications can occur with hay fever, such as:

  • asthma;
  • itching of the oral mucosa, throat, ear;
  • cough;
  • allergic skin reactions (eg, redness, swelling);
  • problems with concentration;
  • sleep disorders;
  • and hearing;
  • general lethargy.

The main complication of this disease is asthma (suffocation attacks). Sufferers have a significantly higher risk of developing asthma than non-allergic people: Allergy precedes asthma in 80% of cases. However, early treatment of allergic rhinitis reduces the risk of developing asthma.

How to treat allergic rhinitis in adults?

To cure allergic rhinitis, first of all, it is necessary to establish and confirm an accurate diagnosis, as well as to identify a list of obvious and potential irritating substances - allergens. Further treatment is carried out, aimed at solving three problems:

  • removal of allergic inflammation and swelling of the nasal mucosa;
  • elimination of reaction to the influence of allergens (allergen-specific therapy);
  • organization of a hypoallergenic life, minimizing contact with an irritant.

Nutrition and lifestyle

If the question of the treatment of allergic rhinitis has already arisen, the first thing you will have to do is change your usual lifestyle. Of great importance in any allergic diseases is the issue of reducing contact with irritants:

  • when identifying signs of a negative reaction to food, it is necessary to strictly diet and completely exclude those products for which an allergy has been identified;
  • in the event of a reaction to plant pollen, it is recommended avoid any contact with the allergen during its flowering season(walks in nature, trips out of town). During the period of exacerbation, coming home from the street, you need to immediately change clothes, take a shower, rinse your nose with an isotonic solution. This is done in order to reduce the duration of contact with pollen, which could be brought into the house on clothes, body and hair of a person;
  • if an allergic reaction to house dust is established, it is necessary to regularly carry out wet cleaning indoors. It is also recommended to organize a hypoallergenic life: the absence of carpets, heavy fabric curtains and down pillows, the removal of all kinds of dust collectors. It is necessary to use special covers for upholstered furniture and bedding, acaricidal (anti-mite) cleaning products;
  • using household air purifiers is useful for both pollen allergies and in case of a reaction to house dust.

These methods are especially relevant in cases where it becomes necessary to treat allergic rhinitis during pregnancy. In this case, you need to take all possible measures to organize a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition and hypoallergenic life.

This set of measures will reduce the need for the use of chemical drugs.

Medical therapy

Drugs intended to treat allergic rhinitis are primarily designed to relieve an allergic reaction and remove severe symptoms of the disease. Most often, these are general action antihistamines, produced in tablets or drops.

They are taken as prescribed by a doctor, usually once a day, for a long period (from 1 month). Among these drugs, second-generation drugs have proven themselves well:

  • cetirizine;
  • Claritin;
  • Zodak.
  • and the third (Erius, Zirtek).

They have a minimum of side effects compared to the first generation (Suprastin). With a fairly mild form of the disease, there is one medicine from this list is enough to completely eliminate symptoms .

In the treatment of allergic rhinitis in patients with a more serious stage of the disease, along with the use of tablets, doctors prescribe local anti-inflammatory drugs.

Usually they are a nasal spray and differ in composition and principle of action of the active substance. Widely known means based on derivatives of sodium cromoglycate. These are drugs such as:

  • Kromoheksal
  • Cromosol.

Such medicines are used only as prescribed by a doctor. They are usually prescribed for mild to moderate severity of the course of the disease.

Allergic rhinitis in adults is sometimes preferable to be treated with local remedies of this particular group, so that systemic effects from a general antihistamine drug do not develop.

For severe symptoms of allergic rhinitis, more serious hormonal drugs are used to suppress the inflammatory response: nasal corticosteroids, which are also available in the form of sprays. These include drugs such as:

  • Nasonex;
  • Tafen;
  • Benarin.

Although topical corticosteroids are generally well tolerated and have few side effects, they should never be taken without a doctor's prescription. Only treatment in adults is permissible; in younger children, these drugs are rarely prescribed.

Preparations based on isotonic solution or sea water:

  • Salin;
  • Aquamaris.

They are completely harmless and are designed for gentle washing and cleansing of the nasal passages from allergens and mucus accumulations that have got there.

Attention!!! It is strongly not recommended to use popular vasoconstrictor drugs for a long time in the treatment of allergic rhinitis - Naphthyzin, Xymelin. They do not solve the problem in any way, but instead dry out the inflamed nasal mucosa and, with regular use, cause the development of drug-induced rhinitis.

Before treating an allergic rhinitis, it is worth trying preventive measures, for example, Nazaval and Prevalin. These are protective sprays based on cellulose or oils and clay, which have an enveloping effect. They help isolate the nasal mucosa from the irritant, that is, prevent the allergen from getting on it.

The use of such funds is advisable only in a state without exacerbation - it makes no sense to apply them to the irritated mucous membrane during an allergy attack.

Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy (ASIT)

A separate group of medications is designed to prevent the development of a negative reaction to an allergen.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) is a relatively new treatment modality. The method is based on a gradual decrease in the body's sensitivity to the allergen through gradual "accustoming". This long and complex therapy, carried out during the period of remission, allows you to prepare for the season of exacerbation of hay fever and achieve a decrease or complete absence of reaction to the stimulus.

To achieve a stable remission, 3-4 courses of therapy may be needed.

Treatment of allergic rhinitis with folk remedies

Trying to treat allergic rhinitis with alternative medicine is permissible only if the disease is mild and has not passed into the chronic stage.

You should be careful and remember that many plants themselves can be quite strong allergens.

To find out how the body reacts to a particular herbal remedy, you need to try it for several days in a minimal amount.

If the reaction of the body is normal, treatment with folk remedies can be carried out in long courses. Here are some popular recipes:

  • A decoction of raspberry roots. Pour 100 grams of dry raw materials with 1 liter of water, boil for half an hour, cool and strain. Take this decoction for a quarter cup three times a day, before meals. The course of treatment is 14 days.
  • Decoction of elecampane. 2 teaspoons of dry, crushed elecampane roots pour 200 ml of water, boil for 10 minutes. Strain, take half a glass 2 times a day. The course of taking the decoction is 14 days.
  • Aloe juice nose drops. Squeeze the juice from a fresh aloe leaf, instill 2 drops 2 times a day in each nostril. The juice can be stored in a tightly closed container in the refrigerator for 1 week.
  • A mixture of lemon and horseradish. Mix the crushed ingredients in equal parts. If desired, you can add a little honey (if you are sure that there is no allergic reaction). Take 1 teaspoon twice a day, half an hour before meals.

The symptoms of allergic rhinitis are very unpleasant, and it can be quite difficult to completely cure this disease. Doctors recommend that people at risk for the prevention of allergy manifestations adhere to the following rules:

  • use filters and air purifiers in the room;
  • regularly carry out wet cleaning, get rid of household dust accumulators (carpets, large soft toys, down and feather pillows);
  • avoid prolonged exposure to aggressive air environment (tobacco smoke, strong chemical odors, dust and soot);
  • during the flowering season of allergenic plants, if possible, stay indoors as much as possible or go to another climatic zone;
  • follow the principles of proper nutrition and a hypoallergenic diet;
  • at the slightest tendency to allergies, it is worth refusing to keep any animals in the house.

The topic of prevention of such a disease as allergic rhinitis during pregnancy becomes especially relevant. After all, there is a risk of developing the disease not only for the mother, but also for the unborn child. The use of drugs such as Prevalin or Nazawal- a safe way to prevent the development of the disease.

Forecast

The long-term prognosis of allergic rhinitis is good, as many cases are successfully managed by minimizing exposure to allergens and treatment with one or more drugs.

However, when people with allergic rhinitis have other coexisting disorders, for example, it is much more serious, as death has been observed in rare cases.

Although the condition is not considered serious (if there is no asthma), it causes a lot of discomfort and interferes with the normal daily life of the patient.

Conclusion

There is no simple and quick way to treat allergic rhinitis in allergic people. What to do in each case, only a qualified doctor will tell you.

To completely get rid of the disease, you will have to undergo complex diagnostics and a long course of treatment. In the future, you will need to avoid contact with allergens and adhere to a whole set of rules.

Sometimes moving to a different climate zone dramatically helps to solve this problem.

Interesting

Today, allergic reactions, including seasonal and year-round rhinitis, are one of the most common pathologies in society. From 10 to 30% of adults suffer from a runny nose, year-round or seasonal, among children this figure reaches 42%. Quite often, without proper treatment and prevention, such a condition threatens to turn into more severe and complex forms of the disease, such as bronchial asthma and asthmatic bronchitis. The disease negatively affects the quality of life of adults and children, reducing the effectiveness of professional activities and studies.

Many people do not go to the doctor for a long time, taking the symptoms of allergic rhinitis for a cold, because of which the condition can be complicated by secondary lesions of the sinuses, tonsils, and middle ear, but without proper treatment, there is no improvement. Therefore, the patient needs to understand what kind of pathology it is, to distinguish between symptoms similar to SARS and manifestations of other diseases, and to know how diagnosis and treatment are carried out.

Allergic rhinitis: what is it?

Runny nose, called the inflammatory process of the nasal mucosa, leading to swelling, irritation, itching. With the disease, mucous secretions are formed, and the microbial component makes them thick and purulent. Unlike infectious, the causes of which are viral, microbial, less often fungal pathogens, this is an inflammatory process caused by exposure to irritants on the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity.

The form is distinguished:

  • year-round - manifests itself constantly or in periods, at any time of the year when in contact with a hazardous substance;
  • seasonal, or pollinosis, is characterized as excessive sensitivity to the pollen of plants, flowers, weeds; manifestations occur only during periods of flowering or pollination of the causally significant plant.

For hay fever, seasonality is typical with several periods (mid-spring, then late spring - early summer, late summer - early autumn), depending on the region and specific weather conditions, with fluctuations of a couple of weeks.

In addition to pollen, which is considered one of the most well-known irritants, reactions can form on household dust, chemical products (household chemicals, paints, varnishes, cosmetics, perfumes); food ingredients; medicines and wool, pet dander, micromites, down and bird feathers.

Mechanisms of the disease

To more accurately understand what this disease means, it is necessary to know the mechanisms of the development of pathology. The basis of any allergic reaction is an excessive and incorrect reaction of the immune system to allergens (substances that contribute to the development of such a reaction). There are also haptens - substances that turn into allergens only when combined with body proteins.

With the existing predisposition to pathology, these substances, when they enter the body and on the mucous membranes, form an excessively violent and pronounced reaction. The condition is accompanied by damage to one's own cells and tissues, acute inflammation with the formation of pathological reactions, namely edema, itching, mucus secretion, difficulty in normal breathing and many accompanying manifestations.

- This is a violation of the local immune response in the nasal mucosa. In response to the penetration of the antigen, reagins (class E immunoglobulins) are synthesized, and mast cells are also activated, releasing mediators - histamine, bradykinin and leukotrienes, responsible for the development of rapid and acute, pronounced inflammatory reactions.

Often, such response features are inherited from parents or occur with a long-term pathological effect on the immune system: frequent contact with hazardous substances, work in hazardous industries, constant colds, foci of chronic infection - in a word, all influences leading to prolonged overstrain of immunity.

Causes of the disease: the development of seasonal or year-round runny nose

Pollinosis occurs at the flowering stage and is formed as a reaction to the pollen of wind-pollinated plants. The most common are weeds - wormwood, quinoa and other grasses, pollen of trees and flowers, cereals, bush plants, both ornamental and cultivated.

For year-round - typical household irritants:

  • mold fungi;
  • tobacco smoke;
  • dust mites;
  • particles of insects living in apartments;
  • dandruff;
  • saliva particles
  • animal hair, down and feathers of birds;
  • household chemicals.

Occupational hazards can become dangerous - industrial or construction dust, soot, chemical volatile compounds.

In addition to contact with the nasal mucosa, the following factors also affect the frequency, severity and prevalence of reactions:

  • general condition of the body;
  • the presence of chronic diseases;
  • accommodations;
  • taking medications, including those used topically in the treatment of colds;
  • adenoid vegetations;
  • polyps;
  • deviated septum of the nose;
  • bad habits;
  • hormonal fluctuations and stress.

According to statistics, about 20% of cases are of seasonal origin, and about 40% of people suffer from a progressive, long-term illness. The rest of the patients suffer from episodic exacerbations of this pathology, sometimes with an unknown cause.

The main symptoms of allergic rhinitis

External signs are pronounced, and cause the patient a lot of discomfort. These include severe nasal congestion with the impossibility of normal breathing, sneezing due to itching and burning in the nose, and the release of abundant clear mucus. In some cases, such manifestations are combined with redness of the eyes, tearing and coughing, sore throat, especially with seasonal hay fever.

It is not uncommon for symptoms to worsen when going outside, and at home with closed windows and using an air conditioner with a HEPA filter, they are relieved or completely disappear. In rare cases, severe symptoms are present, with severe malaise, headaches, and even a slight fever.

Allergic rhinitis: additional symptoms in adults

Against the background of the main signs, after a few hours or days from the onset of the clinical picture, coughing symptoms may join, especially in the supine position due to irritation of the posterior pharyngeal wall with nasal mucus. There may be a feeling of congestion in the ears and a feeling of fatigue, irritability.

Due to the constant use of handkerchiefs or napkins, symptoms in adults such as redness, peeling of the wings of the nose and nasolabial folds are possible. In severe cases, headaches are possible, and due to severe dryness of the mucous membranes, nosebleeds. Due to tissue hypoxia, dark circles and puffiness form in the area around the eyes.

After a full diagnosis of the disease, taking into account the symptoms, only an allergist-immunologist or ENT doctor should deal with its treatment. The medical specialist will select the necessary medicines, inform the patient about non-drug methods to alleviate the condition.

How to treat allergic rhinitis in adults

To know exactly how to cure a pathology in adults quickly and safely, you need to see a doctor to make a diagnosis, exclude the infectious nature of the common cold and prevent possible complications.

Initially, the doctor will tell you, if an allergy is detected, how to cure the pathology, applying the whole range of measures. You need to start not with “heavy” drugs, but with dissociation from the irritant, this is the most effective and safest method of therapy. In case of seasonal irritation during flowering or a dangerous season, it is recommended to change the region by going on vacation or visiting. If this is not possible, you need to create the most comfortable environment in the house:

  • use air conditioners and air cleaners with HEPA filters;
  • an option to reduce the concentration of pathogens in the air is a fine-mesh fabric on the windows, which should often be moistened during periods of plant dusting, which delays some of the irritants;
  • remove all dust collectors that can accumulate pathogens - thick curtains, upholstered furniture (or cover it with special covers), soft toys, books;
  • in windy weather, use a mask and goggles to protect the eyes and respiratory organs;
  • walk after rain and in high humidity, when returning home, take a shower and immediately change clothes.

How to treat year-round runny nose

More difficult is the question of how to treat a disease that has a year-round course. In this case, life and the elimination of irritating factors are primarily important, and in the case of a well-known pathogen, identified by the results of skin tests or a blood test, a targeted fight against a causally significant factor. For example, if these are dust mites, surfaces in the house should be periodically treated with acaricidal sprays or solutions, and general cleaning should be carried out frequently. But not always with the task of how to cure allergic rhinitis, non-drug methods can cope, or if separation from the irritant is impossible due to circumstances. Then the use of drugs is necessary.

Remedies for the disease

It is important to understand that any remedy for allergic rhinitis, even if it is a topical drug or an over-the-counter remedy that is freely sold in pharmacies, must be prescribed by a doctor. The participation of a doctor in the treatment process is necessary for its effectiveness and safety.

The following drugs are commonly used:

  • antihistamines by mouth or in the form of topical nasal agents (sprays, drops);
  • drugs with anti-inflammatory action from other groups of drugs - mast cell membrane stabilizers, topically in the form of drops and sprays;
  • preparations for irrigation of the mucous membrane and mechanical washing off of bacteria, reduction of swelling and itching (sprays and nasal douches based on salt solutions of sea water);
  • protective nasal sprays that create a thin film on the surface of the nasal mucosa and mechanically prevent contact;
  • corticosteroid anti-inflammatory drugs of local action, and in severe situations - orally and by injection;
  • symptomatic drugs (vasoconstrictor, facilitating nasal breathing) in a limited course.

The doctor will decide on the drugs to treat allergic rhinitis according to the results of the examination and the severity of the manifestations - seasonal or year-round.

How to treat allergic rhinitis in children

With pathology in children, a strict selection of drugs is very important, and medical supervision at all stages of treatment and prevention.

The following are widely used:

  • preparations for washing the nasal cavity based on saline, sea water;
  • indifferent protective sprays that create a mechanical barrier on the nasal mucosa;
  • antihistamines of the 2nd and 3rd generation - they are the safest;
  • preparations based on glucocorticosteroids (hormones) and vasoconstrictors are used in the acute phase of the disease, with strictly limited courses.

A specific list of drugs and drugs than to treat allergic rhinitis in children, depending on the severity of manifestations and age, is determined only by a pediatric allergist-immunologist after an accurate diagnosis.

Physiotherapy using a traveling magnetic field makes it possible to treat many diseases, because this particular physiotherapy has a minimum of contraindications. Physiotherapy promotes better absorption of medications, reducing the drug load on the body. The magnetic field, due to its ability to increase blood flow, makes it possible to quickly remove inflammation, reduce pain and speed up recovery.

It is important to know how to cure rhinitis, or at least avoid complications for a long time due to specific immunotherapy (ASIT).

To date, this is the most effective method that is applicable outside the period of exacerbation. With the help of ASIT, the body's resistance is formed due to the course introduction of subthreshold doses, which leads to the development of tolerance (immunity). Complete completion of the course, followed by full-fledged prevention, helps to get rid of the pathology for an extremely long period - up to 5-7 years or more.

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