Nasal Allergy

Numerous people suffer from the nasal allergy, especially seasonal allergy, that significantly many people go through with the start of spring, and it’s a tiring and annoying condition that causes several symptoms and lowers the quality of life of the patient.

Nasal allergy

An allergy is the body’s reaction against any substance or strange thing that irritates the immune system. When the body is exposed to this substance, the immune system sees it as an intruder, and therefore, it releases certain chemicals (like histamines, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins) as a response, which, in turn, causes the allergy symptoms to manifest. The severity of this response differs between people depending on the reaction of the immune system and how much of a threat the immune system perceives this allergen to be.

Allergic rhinitis occurs when inhaling the allergen that accumulates in the nasal passages and gets stuck in the mucous membranes; this leads to the inflammation and irritation of the nose and eyes. Sometimes the reaction might be severe and cause more serious complications.

Nasal allergy is a highly common respiratory condition, and it affects around 20-30% of adults and 40% of children.

Allergic rhinitis was previously categorized depending on the time of exposure to allergens as seasonal allergy (occurs in the beginning of a certain season due to an external allergen) and perennial allergy (occurs throughout the year as a result of an outdoor allergen). However, this categorization has been changed currently depending on the frequency and severity of the allergy to:

• Intermittent allergic rhinitis: the symptoms last less than 4 days for less than 4 consecutive weeks.
• Persistent allergic rhinitis: the symptoms last more than 4 days for more than 4 consecutive weeks.

Causes of nasal allergy

There are several external and internal allergens; the most significant of them are:

• External allergens: pollens that come from plants, such as trees, grass, and weeds.
• Internal allergens: house dust mites, mold, and animals.
• Recently, nasal allergy has become more prevalent due to the climate changes that led to the elevation in the earth’s temperature and the increase in the carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration, which, in turn, led to a change in the seasons in which pollens spread, how long they spread, their quantity, and their composition, in addition to the increase in allergenicity. Adding to that, the increase in air pollution elevated the allergy rate.

Symptoms of nasal allergy

• Itching of the nose, throat, eyes, and ears.
• Runny or stuffy nose.
• Sneezing.
• Coughing.
• Red eyes.
• Runny eyes.
• Swollen or puffy eyes.
• Allergies might affect sleep and work or study.
• Allergy might be associated with other comorbidities like asthma.

Diagnosis of nasal allergy

• A skin or blood test is performed to determine the cause behind an allergy.

Treatment of nasal allergy

There isn’t a cure for allergic rhinitis because it’s a lifelong condition. However, symptoms can be managed by:

• Over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines to suppress the immune system response, decongestants, and cough medicines.
• Steroid or antihistamine nasal sprays.
• In severe cases, allergen immunotherapy can be used, and it can be given as subcutaneous injections or sublingual tablets or drops.

Prevention of nasal allergy

Exposure to allergens can be minimized by:

• Reducing outdoor activities in times when pollen counts are high.
• Start taking allergy medicines before the beginning of the allergy season.
• Change the clothes and wash the hair and nose after going outdoors.
• Avoid mowing grass and plants without a mask.
• Close the windows and doors to prevent the pollens from entering.