Doctors use a three-part plan to treat rhinitis, which is inflammation of the lining of the nose, explains the Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters for Allergy and Immunology. Environmental control and avoiding triggers is one element. The second component is medicine. To best help their patients, doctors refer to new treatment guidelines, such as those issued by ARIA, the Asthma and Its Impact on Allergy workshop. The third component--which is used for those with allergic rhinitis--is immunotherapy with allergy shots. Doctors try to find the cause of rhinitis early as proper treatment can reduce sensitivity to triggers and forestall the onset of asthma, reports the Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters.`
Types
The two types of rhinitis are allergic and nonallergic, explains the Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters. Allergic rhinitis is caused by allergy to airborne substances, such as pollen, dust, molds and pet dander. Nonallergic rhinitis is triggered by an irritant, such as smoke or chemicals, or in response to weather changes or certain medications. Many people have both types of rhinitis, which is called mixed rhinitis.
Symptoms
All kinds of rhinitis are characterized by stuffy nose, sneezing and an itchy or runny nose. Often, postnasal drip, mucous in the throat, occurs too, reports the Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters. People with hay fever are more likely to experience itchy eyes or throat, reports MayoClinic.com and those with nonallergic rhinitis may have a chronic runny nose and experience symptoms throughout the year.
Prevention
An important part of treatment for rhinitis is simply to avoid the substance that triggers it. People with allergy-related rhinitis are told to stay indoors in the morning when the pollen count is high or to get rid of a pet they react to, reports MayoClinic.com. For people with nonallergic rhinitis, doctors may suggest changing jobs if an irritant at work is the culprit.
Management
Many sorts of medications are used to treat rhinitis. If nasal congestion is the primary symptom, the doctor's first choice is a nasal steroid. It is the most effective drug for a stuffy nose and alleviates itchy and running nose too, explains ARIA. Decongestants, which are available over-the-counter as pills or sprays, are also used to relieve stuffiness, preferably after other remedies have failed. People are advised to use decongestants for only a short period, as they can cause a return of nasal stuffiness if used for longer than three days, reports MayoClinic.com.
Allergy-Specific Medications
Antihistamines block histamine, a chemical released by allergic reaction, and are used as the first therapy for many people with allergic rhinitis. They are available as pills, nasal sprays and eyedrops, reports MayoClinic.com. Doctors recommend avoiding older first-generation antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine becUse they cause sleepiness, states ARIA, which is less likely with newer pills. Formerly reserved for severe cases, doctors now give allergy shots more often and early, as studies show they prevent complications such as asthma and chronic allergy, reports the Joint Task Force for Practice Parameters.
Nonallergic Rhinitis Medications
Some people with nonallergic rhinitis may suffer especially from a runny, drippy nose. For them, doctors prescribe ipratropium, an antidrip nasal spray, reports MayoClinic..com. People also use simple and inexpensive nasal washes, especially if their main symptom is constant runny nose. Home-made and over-the-counter salt water solutions flush irritants and thin mucus, reports MayoClinic.com. They can be used more than once a day.
References
- Mayo Clinic.com: Nonallergic Rhinitis
- "The Diagnosis and Management of Rhinitis: An Updated Practice Parameter"; Journal of Clinical Immunology. 2008
- MayoClinic: Hay Fever.
- "Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008 Update"; J. Bousquet
