When people get runny noses and they don’t have a cold or flu, allergies are probably the instigators. Allergic reactions to certain substances make the body release histamines, chemicals that can cause runny noses, among other allergy symptoms. This sign of allergic rhinitis is common to both seasonal and perennial forms of the condition. Seasonal allergies, or hay fever, correspond to outdoor plant reproductive cycles. Perennial allergies can be generated any time of year in some patients when they encounter indoor allergens.
Tree Pollen Allergy
Cedar, elm, pecan, alder and many other trees release allergenic pollens into the air during the spring, depending upon the U.S. location. The Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Clinic of Georgetown, Texas, notes that hay fever patients in central Texas and neighboring regions also experience allergy symptoms in December, January and February. The mountain cedar, or Ashe juniper, typically lets loose huge volumes of tree pollen during these winter months. Allergic reactions to tree pollen cause runny noses that may alternately itch or become congested.
Grass Pollen Allergy
Grass pollens can produce relentless hay fever symptoms in the summertime as different varieties pollinate in succession. Patients may form allergic reactions to fescue, salt, sweet vernal, orchard, timothy, Kentucky blue, Bermuda, Johnson and perennial rye grasses. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these grass pollens can all potentially afflict seasonal allergic rhinitis patients with runny noses.
Ragweed Allergy
Ragweed, however, causes the majority of allergic reactions in U.S. seasonal allergy sufferers, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. September is the peak month for ragweed symptoms, which can develop anytime between August and November. Runny nose allergy symptoms alternate with congestion and sneezing in the body’s attempt to fight off ragweed allergens.
Leaf Mold Allergy
Similar to ragweed effects, leaf mold hay fever symptoms can arise whenever the leaves from trees and plants litter the ground. The University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, notes that mold allergies commonly occur in summer. Patients may notice runny noses after stirring up downed leaves on a walk or while doing yard work.
Perennial Allergies
Runny nose allergy symptoms that occur without a seasonal pattern or outdoor exposure may be signs of perennial allergic rhinitis, as the UMMC reports. Contact with airborne pet dander or indoor black mold spores causes symptoms in some allergy patients. Others demonstrate allergies to cockroaches or tiny household mites by developing runny or stuffy noses and sneezing.
