Environmental Allergies (Allergic Rhinitis)
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Diagnosis of environmental allergies
Allergy Shots (immunotherapy)
Cat Allergy
Dog Allergy
Dust Mite Allergy
Seasonal Allergies
The Pollen-Food Syndrome
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Allergies occur when the body's immune system over-reacts to particles that are normally harmless. In environmental allergies,
the body's immune system over-reacts to allergens from animals, dust mites, or pollens from grasses, weeds, trees, and molds
that are present in the air that you breathe in. When these allergens enter the nose, sinuses, and lungs, the body's immune
system over-reacts and releases a number of chemicals, including histamine, resulting in what is called an allergic reaction.
Allergic rhinitis is not a life threatening disease, but it seriously affects one's quality of life and can result in frequent sinus
infections, difficulties sleeping, snoring, fatigue, and decreased attention span. Individuals suffering from allergic rhinitis are at
increased risk of developing asthma and atopic dermatitis.
What are the symptoms of environmental allergies (allergic rhinitis) ?
Individuals suffering from environmental allergies may have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose - usually the drainage is clear and watery
- Stuffy nose
- Itchy nose
- Post nasal drip
- Itchy throat
- Sinus pain or pressure
- Itchy eyes
- Watery eyes
- Red puffy eyes
Symptoms can occur within a few minutes of exposure to allergens. Individuals allergic to pollens from plants typically have
symptoms in the Spring, Summer and/or Fall, while individuals allergic to animals and dust mites often have symptoms all year
long.
What is the treatment of allergic rhinitis?
The treatment of allergies is a three step process:
- Environmental control : avoiding the cause of allergies is a crucial step in improving allergies. This may include removal of
animals from the house for individuals with dog or cat allergies, or the use of dust mite covers for dust mite allergies. - Medications : there are a number of medications that can help minimize allergy symptoms. These include antihistamines
such as Benadryl, Atarax, Claritin, Allegra, Zyrtec, and Xyzal or antihistamine nose sprays such as Astelin or Patanase. It
also includes steroid nasal sprays such as Flonase, Nasonex, Nasacort, Rhinocort, and Veramyst. Other medications
used for allergies include decongestants (Sudafed) and Leukotriene Inhibitors (Singulair, Zafirlukast,...) and eye drops.
Speak with your doctor about which medications are right for you. - Allergen immunotherapy: this treatment is aimed at reducing your sensitivity to allergens and is the only treatment that
directly targets the cause of allergies. By injecting increasing amounts of allergens, allergy symptoms gradually improve
over time. Allergy shots have been shown to be effective in up to 90% of individuals suffering from allergic rhinitis.
Allergy shots have also been demonstrated to be effective for allergic asthma and insect allergy. Your board certified
allergist/immunologist can provide you with more information on allergen immunotherapy.
Sources include:
Allergen Immunotherapy: A Practice Parameter Second Update. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2007;120:S25-S85.
Updated 6 Jan 2009
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