Every person can have an allergy differently, but more often than not, it manifests itself in the appearance of a cold. The cause may be various stimuli, in any case this phenomenon causes a lot of inconvenience. But there are questions: if you have an allergic rhinitis, what is the treatment for this disease, what will be effective and what can be done to minimize the likelihood of a relapse?
What is allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis( rhinitis) can be accompanied by rhinorrhea( discharge from the nose).Its occurrence is characterized by difficulty breathing, swelling of the nasal passages, there is itching or burning, lays the nose, sneezing begins. It is possible that these symptoms can be accompanied by inflammation of the eye mucosa( conjunctivitis).But in each specific case a person can notice additional individual manifestations. Also in a certain month of the year there may be a constant runny nose. The reasons for such manifestations are different.
Why allergic rhinitis occurs
An allergic rhinitis develops against a background of hypersensitivity to this or that allergen. It manifests itself immediately or 20 minutes after exposure to the stimulus. For a person such an allergen can become pollen of plants, dust accumulated on the shelves of libraries or at home, some medicines, certain foods. In addition, allergies to cats, insects, fungi( mold or yeast) may develop. But some people face this problem because of genetic predisposition.
Symptoms of
But how to distinguish an allergic rhinitis from a common cold? Below are some signs:
- Itching in the nose.
- Colorless, watery discharge. If the irritant comes into contact, prolonged sneezing can begin.
- Nasal congestion, which becomes more noticeable in the night.
- Often this rhinitis is accompanied by conjunctivitis, itching in the eye area and even facial swelling. Also, the appearance of a cough is not excluded, and this, in turn, can lead to bronchial asthma.
- An examination by an otolaryngologist shows a pale and friable nasal membrane, with watery discharge present. Pharyngitis can develop.
- Being in the room, a person feels a constant runny nose. The reasons for this are different, but usually allergies cause chemical odors, tobacco smoke, perfumes, powders and other household chemicals, industrial flavors or new furniture.
Consequences of an allergic rhinitis
If a person has developed an allergy, her symptoms will constantly appear after a short time after contact with the stimulus( for each he is individual).If it is pollinosis, the symptoms will be present for a long time, while trees, shrubs or weeds bloom. From frequent carding, such people even have a transverse fold on the nose. In addition, the constant nasal congestion leads to the fact that a person begins to breathe only through the mouth. This circumstance usually leads to stagnant processes and the formation of polyps, the development of sinusitis or otitis. Swelling of the mucosa can lead to blockage of the paranasal sinuses. In addition, often the sense of smell disappears and, as a consequence, a sense of taste. If rhinitis is seasonal, complications are usually not observed.
Nutrition
In some cases, improper nutrition can aggravate the patient's condition. Sometimes the most effective means of allergy is to remove certain foods from the diet. For example, if a person has seen a reaction to pollen, it is important to determine at what period it manifests itself. In the spring months poplar, hazel, birch and other trees usually bloom. If it is during this period there is an allergy, it is better to exclude from the diet potatoes, parsley, honey, pears and apples. This is necessary to avoid cross-reaction. If irritation begins in August and September, when ragweed and quinoa blossom, it is advisable to abandon mayonnaise, cabbage, watermelons and honey. But this is not the whole list of products, since there is much that can cause a cross allergy. Be sure to consult an allergist.
Determine the nature of the disease
Before deciding what to treat an allergic rhinitis, it is important to determine the source of the problem. Having found out the reason, it is possible to cope with illness. But to determine the source of allergies it is important to appear to the allergist who will prescribe the passage of the tests. This can be blood donation or skin tests. Having learned the source of irritation, it is necessary to minimize your contact with him. If it turned out that this is a reaction to flowering, then during this period it is better to go on vacation, if it's food, then they need to be excluded, and so on.
Allergic rhinitis: how to treat this disease
With seasonal rhinitis it is necessary to do a nose wash. In pharmacies is sold an inexpensive device called "Dolphin", which is convenient to carry out this procedure. It consists of a vial, a tube and a lid. With its help, you can regulate the supply of fluid and reduce discomfort to a minimum. The medicine for allergic rhinitis, which will be flushed, can be done by yourself. For this, 1/4 teaspoon of soda and salt is dropped into the glass of water, a few drops of iodine are added. The tool is placed in the device. If desired, you can buy a pharmacy solution in bags. In addition, the spray from an allergic rhinitis based on sea water works perfectly. This could be Aqua Maris, Akvalor, Marimer, Allergol.
treatment program As already mentioned, it is important to find out its nature before treating an allergic rhinitis. If you do not know what causes irritation, treatment becomes useless, and at times can damage your health.
Having identified the nature of the disease, you can proceed to the following stages:
- Getting rid of the inflammations that appeared on the mucous membranes of the nose.
- Allergic-specific therapy.
Anti-inflammatory treatment of
Most often, in order to get rid of inflammation, an integrated approach is used, in which several drugs are involved. So, than to treat an allergic rhinitis, what drugs are prescribed by doctors?
Usually it is antihistamines given in the form of tablets or drops. Today doctors advise to use second-generation drugs, such as "Tsetrin", "Zodak", "Kestin", "Claritin", and the third generation - "Erius", "Zirtek", "Telfast".Depending on the patient's age, dosage is adjusted. Usually the course of treatment should last two to three weeks. But if you contact a doctor, he appoints the number of days at his discretion( given the patient's condition).It should be noted that it is forbidden to prescribe such medicines for oneself. Before treating an allergic rhinitis without consulting a doctor, it is worth considering that these drugs always have side effects and very often they have a cardiotoxic effect, having a negative impact on the heart. Medicines of the last generation are considered less dangerous to health, but their cost remains high.
Sprays and drops from rhinitis
If these drugs failed to bring relief, the next step will be a nasal spray from the allergic rhinitis and sprays that act directly on the nasal mucosa. With mild symptoms, Cromoglyn, Cromosol, and Cromogexal, that is, derivatives of sodium cromoglycate, are usually prescribed. These funds are found in the form of sprays. They need to be used all the time while the exacerbation lasts, thrice a day, doing one or two injections. The result can be noticed only after the fifth day, and sometimes even later. Usually, without these drugs, the treatment of an allergic rhinitis in children is not enough. Since these funds relate more to preventive, the course can last up to four months. But doctors are not forbidden to use such sprays all year round.
The tool "Nazaval" has also gained popularity. It is based on plant cellulose. This spray from an allergic rhinitis is applied up to six times a day. After injecting its contents into the nose on the mucosa, a shell forms, which serves as a barrier, not allowing the irritant to affect the sensitive areas. If the disease is acute, this remedy will be ineffective.
In case of severe allergic rhinitis, you can use such sprays as "Nazonex", "Aldetsin", "Nazarel", "Benarin", "Nasobek", "Fliksonase".The doctor will help determine the duration of the course of such treatment.
Error in treatment with drops
Often, using drops in the nose from an allergic rhinitis, a person commits a mistake - he uses vasoconstrictive drugs for a long time. Usually these drugs( "Naphthyzin", "Vibrocil", etc.) help make breathing easier with the nose. But, using them for a long time, the patient increases the likelihood of developing medical rhinitis. Sometimes, depending on the degree of severity, surgery may be necessary to get rid of the acquired disease. At an allergic rhinitis it is desirable to not use these drops. You can make an exception only with severe nasal congestion, but then you need to switch to intranasal glucocorticoids.
Allergen-specific therapy
Some people may not benefit from any remedy for an allergic rhinitis, while others may have contraindications to such drugs. In these cases, you can resort to a completely radical way of fighting - allergen-specific therapy. But such treatment should be dealt with only by an experienced doctor and only in a hospital. The principle is to manage the patient a certain dose of the allergen. Gradually the dose should increase. All this is necessary in order for the body to develop resistance to irritation. If the treatment was successful, the symptoms of allergic rhinitis completely recede. A similar method has already been tried by thousands of people and were pleased with the result, as they were able to get rid of the tormented symptoms.
You can also use a homeopathic remedy for an allergic rhinitis called "Rinosnenai" in the treatment.
Folk methods
As is known, traditional medicine helps in the fight against many diseases, but, unfortunately, it can not cure allergic rhinitis. Often, treatment with doses, infusions and decoctions can worsen a person's condition, since an allergy can exacerbate such an effect. Do not listen to the advice of neighbors and friends who are allegedly cured by folk methods from an allergic rhinitis. There is only one safe "home" method of relief - washing the nasal passages with saline. But it is worth considering that this measure is not a cure, so it is better not to delay, but rather to buy drops from an allergic rhinitis in the pharmacy on the recommendation of a doctor. This is necessary, since simply using a saline solution is not capable of producing a tangible, persistent therapeutic effect.
Allergic rhinitis during child bearing
When allergic rhinitis starts to develop during pregnancy, women and doctors sound alarm because many methods of treatment, including folk methods, can not be used. The disease itself does not have any effect on the fetus. But with incorrectly chosen methods of treatment, and also if the condition has developed into a heavier form, the threat to the baby is increasing. To identify the cause of the allergy, a woman needs to take a blood test. You can not take a sample from the skin at this time.
Methods of treatment during baby bearing
First, it is worth remembering that it is forbidden to treat allergic rhinitis during pregnancy with antihistamines because they can harm the fetus. If there is an urgent need for them, it is better to give preference to the means of the third generation. But the dosage is strictly prescribed and regulated by the doctor.
Treatment should be local in nature and only affect the nasal canals. Therefore, the doctor can prescribe a spray or a drop from an allergic rhinitis with a content of sodium cromoglicate. In any case, the basis of such drugs should be plant cellulose. But it is important to note that in the first three months of gestation it is also not necessary to use nasal corticosteroids.
Lifestyle for allergic rhinitis
The main task in the event of allergic symptoms is to reduce contact with the stimulus to a possible minimum. But it can be identified only after the diagnosis. Then the doctor should give his recommendations.
All allergens are divided into:
- household( home dust, pillow feathers);
- food( various products);
- industrial( powders, detergents);
- pollen;
- epidermal( animal hair, feathers of birds);
- fungal.
Once an allergen is identified, it is easier to think about further activities. For example, with food allergy, a person tests, which will show which products are incompatible with the body. They will have to be removed from the diet.
If a household allergy is detected, it is recommended that wet cleaning is carried out daily. During the cleaning itself, it is necessary to be in a bandage or mask, which will prevent dust from entering the mucosa. In addition, all bedding must be made only from hypoallergenic materials. It is also desirable not to keep "dust collectors" in your apartment. These include mattresses, rugs, fabric and soft toys and stuff. In addition, do not forget that it is much easier to clean the blinds than to constantly wash heavy curtains. Furniture should be made of a material that can be wiped with a damp cloth. During the harvest, you need to use acaricides, as they can kill mites that live in house dust. It's no secret that these parasites are the culprits of 50% of cases of development of household allergies.
If the blame for irritation of the mucosa is the pollen of trees and flowers, then you will have to give up trips outside the city. You can arrange evening walks around the city( from 22 hours).It is at this time in the air pollen concentration decreases. Also in the first half of the day you should not open your windows. An air cleaner can be installed in the apartment. Many firms tend to make their cosmetics on herbs. People with pollen allergies should refrain from using such substances. Also, in the period when flowering begins, you can take a vacation and try to leave your region. It is better to choose the place of destination for the sea or mountainous terrain. In these areas, the concentration of pollen is always minimal.
Prevention
Unfortunately, modern medicine has not yet developed measures that allow for prevention and reduce the likelihood of allergic rhinitis. If the disease has already overcome a person, all the prevention is reduced to reducing contact with the irritant, as well as choosing the right remedy for an allergic rhinitis. This is necessary, because in the absence of proper treatment the disease will begin to progress. In this case, all the symptoms will increase.
Allergies and pets
Approximately 15% of the population is experiencing difficulty when they develop an allergy to the pet's pet. But the reaction of a person does not arise on the coat itself, but on what is on it. Animals can lick and leave on the fibers their saliva and skin particles. They cause irritation of mucous membranes. But how? Animal cells are strong enough proteins, when they enter the human body with a weakened immune system, they begin to be perceived as a threat, and a protective reaction is triggered. Side effects of these "touches" are manifested in allergies. These can be watery eyes, skin rashes, rhinitis and asthma attacks. Most often, people are allergic to cats, but other animals can also be sources of such painful symptoms.
How to cope with an allergy to pets
Often, this reaction to wool can not be prevented. But to minimize the risk of developing this type of allergy is possible. For this, preparation begins from the very childhood. If a child has a tendency to be allergic, do not immediately give a cat or other animal. If the baby continues to contact the pet, his body will be able to develop a protective function, as a result, in the mature years, you can avoid allergies.
Methods of treatment
If the reaction to the wool has already developed, you can use modern methods that are usually used to treat other types of allergies.
- As in other cases, it is important to use antihistamines. They are necessary in order to neutralize the action of substances that cause symptoms. For example, it can be "Claritin", "Benadryl" - they are sold in pharmacies without a prescription. Also, the doctor can prescribe medications that are only available on prescription( for example, "Allegra").
- Also, decongestants can help here, since allergic to wool can cause mucosal edema. Such drugs do not allow mucus to stagnate. Such means include "Sudafed".
- Also the doctor can prescribe other drugs that successfully cope with asthma and allergic symptoms. For example, prescription steroids - "Flonase" or "Nazonex" are usually prescribed for treatment.
Other activities
In addition to treatment, it is worthwhile to follow simple rules that help reduce the chances of exacerbation or the appearance of symptoms. Recommendations apply to pet owners.
- Bathe pet and comb out.
- Regularly organize wet cleaning in rooms.
- The animal should lie and sleep on its litter, and not on the bed or the master's chair.
- After contact with the pet, always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- To reduce the loss of hair, try to make the nutrition of your pet balanced.
Choosing the right treatment and taking all the preventive measures, you can probably get along with your favorite pet in one area.