Allergy > Treating Allergy > Treatment for Allergy Rhinitis

Treatment for Allergy Rhinitis

Allergic Rhinitis is defined as, "inflammation of the nasal passages, formally associated with watery nasal discharge and itching of nose and eyes”. The most common illness that has widely spread all over the world is Allergic Rhinitis. The main causes for this disease are exposure to dust, danders and other similar things which affect the people who are very much allergic to these substances.
           
People below the age of 30 have more chance (two-third to be precise) than the people above that age 30 to catch the symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis. Although, the symptoms may occur at any age and is highly unpredictable. It has been also found out that the disease is independent of gender, although, boys up to age of 10 have twice the chance of catching it while compared to girls of similar ages. It has also found that the disease may act as hereditary. According to recent studies, if 1 of the parent has history of allergic rhinitis, the chances of inheriting the same in his offspring is about 30%.There is a sudden increase 20 more percentile 50%,if both of the parents have their name written in the book of Allergic Rhinitis.
           
There are several types of allergens causing this disease. Dust particles and some of the pests (for example cockroaches) are the main carriers of Allergic Rhinitis. The Mold Spore is yet another important transportation medium for Allergic Rhinitis. These are high during some seasons (For example:-spring) but can be found through out the year in lesser quantities. The main indoor allergen is nothing but our house cat. The minute cat allergen ,secreted through the sebaceous glands of the of the animal's skin, has the capability of staying suspended or floating in air for the maximum of six hours and might stay in the corner of the house for the maximum of 6 months after the cat is removed from the house.

Treatments for Allergic Rhinitis

Antihistamines and Decongestants
Antihistamines (They will be causing dizziness and lack of coordination among human body) are available in the form of liquids, tablets and as capsules. They might also be available in the combined form with Decongestants. Some of the common Antihistamines are brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, clemastine etc. The Non-Sedating long-acting Antihistamine (For example loratidine and fexofenadine) is less likely to cause drowsiness.
Decongestants, including pseudo ephedrine, alone might be helpful for the cause.

Nasal Sprays
Nasal sprays like Commonly Sodium(For example:- Nasacort),steroid nasal spray(for example, flunisolide or Nasalide), beclomethasone dipropionate (For Example:-Beconase),triamcinolone acetonide (For example:- Nasacort) etc may be highly effective at times and also might stop the use of Antihistamines in the near future. The time required for the improvement by this method is usually not more than couple of weeks of starting the therapy. During severe Nasal symptoms, which prevent the adequate use of topical agents, short courses of oral corticosteroids might be used by the doctors.

Allergic Shots or Immunotherapy
The gradual increase of doses of the substance or allergens that a person has found to be allergic is main principle behind Allergic shots or Immunotherapy. Although the treatment sounds strange, this is also one of the highly effective and widely adopted methods through out the world. Here the allergens are supplied to human body in small amount of doses. This triggers the production of antibodies (antibodies are also called as immunoglobins that are present in the liquid phases present in the body, are the main defense mechanism adopted by the body. They are gamma globulin proteins used by the immune substance to identify and neutralize the foreign bodies such as microorganisms) which react and neutralize the allergen and make the human body immune or less-sensitive to that particular allergens. This will make sure that we won’t have Rhinitis due to those particular allergens in the future.

Some of the tests, such as skin test and blood test, are performed by the physicians to confirm the type of allergens present in the patient's body before starting Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy or allergic shots are highly effective and mostly adopted to the patients who are found to be not responsive to medical therapy. This is also implied to the patients who are not willing or unable to make use of the medication. These tests are also applicable for the patients who are vulnerable to medications, in the sense, have side effects. The patients who prefer not use medication for a long time also prefer this method.

A skin or RAST test is performed before Immunotherapy. This is done to find out the allergen and then that allergen (antigen) is injected to a human body in weekly basis in small doses. The amount and time duration is increased cautiously. A local reaction at the injection site is the principal side effect of this test. There is also a risk of anaphylaxis warrants caution.

It is to be noted that Immunotherapy is not a perfect cure for allergic rhinitis. It has been estimated that about eighty five percent of the patients who have suffered from allergic rhinitis, have obtained long term symptom relief from Immunotherapy. It has also been estimated that sixty percent of the people who has underwent immunotherapy, have derived symptomatic benefit i.e. by decreasing the use of medication in their daily life for the cause of allergic rhinitis. Immunotherapy is usually discontinued after three to five seasons of undergoing immunotherapy. It is also notable that Environmental modification must be maintained when the particular person is subjected to immunotherapy.

House Hold Treatment for Allergic Rhinitis

There are some of the simple treatments to get rid of Allergy Rhinitis. These can be done in the home by yourself and are really easy to follow. These methods can be found in Ayurveda (Ayurveda is a system of medicine that was originated in the Indian sub continent and is widely used around the world in the form of alternative medicine. The advantage of Ayurveda over allopathic is that the use of chemicals or drugs is limited and there is no chance of any side effect. Most of the treatments in ayurveda are made of herbs and are bitter in taste) and have been effective. Some of them are given below.

1. By consuming tea containing ginger, pepper and cardamom in small quantities.
2. By consuming coffee without milk, containing dried ginger.
3. By consuming cooled boiled water apple cider vinegar and honey in small quantities.
4. By consuming food that are rich in vitamin C and vitamin B.
5. by consuming chamomile tea twice a day.
6. By consuming a cup of Indian Gooseberry mixed with two tea spoons of honey twice a day.

Avoiding Allergic Rhinitis

1. By closing doors and windows of the house and staying indoor as much as possible will reduce the percent of catching Allergic Rhinitis due to outdoor allergens drastically.
2. Covering pillows, mattresses etc by plastic covers.
3. Replacing synthetic products (for example: - acrylics) by animal products (for example: - wool) and removing house hold materials that is collected by dust.
4. Further Air purifiers and dust filters will help in reducing the percent of catching Allergic Rhinitis.
5. Increasing the use of air conditioners will also help in avoiding allergic Rhinitis.

Even though Allergic Rhinitis is not a life threatening disease, it gets painfully tiring at times. It also makes people lose interest in their work and effect drastically in their efficiency. Hence taking appropriate methods for the prevention of allergic rhinitis is very important.