What is allergic rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis is an allergic reaction to environmental allergens. Allergic triggers can include seasonal and/or year-round allergens. Seasonal allergens include grass pollen, tree pollen, weed pollen, and outdoor mold spores. Year-round allergens include dust mites, pet hair and dander, cockroach droppings, and indoor mold spores. Common symptoms can include runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, nasal itch, itchy skin, itchy mouth and cough. Your allergist may test for allergic rhinitis by performing skin prick testing or ordering serum IgE testing and will recommend a treatment plan for you based on your specific allergies. Some patients with allergic rhinitis may benefit from sublingual immunotherapy/allergy tablets or subcutaneous immunotherapy/allergy injections .
Another condition that has symptoms similar to allergic rhinitis is nonallergic rhinitis. Triggers can include irritants such as viral infections, cigarette smoke, strong odors, and air pollution.
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