Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)

Last Updated: August 16, 2022

Allergic rhinitis is a condition mainly characterized by runny nose, sinus congestion, sneezing, and itching after being exposed to an allergen.

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Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever) falls under theEar, Nose & Throatcategory.

What is allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis is when exposure to an irritant (such as pollen, dust, pet dander, or mold) causes an allergic reaction resulting in inflammation of the sinuses. [1]

What are the main signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis?

After exposure to the allergen (something that triggers allergic reactions), people may experience sneezing, a runny/stuffy nose, itchy/red/watery eyes, and coughing. Symptoms may range from a minor annoyance that lasts for a short season, to severe and last a long time leading to sleep disturbances.[2]

What is the difference between cold, flu, and allergic rhinitis symptoms?

How is allergic rhinitis diagnosed?

Diagnosis is based upon a thorough history and physical examination from a healthcare provider. To confirm a diagnosis, nasal corticosteroids may be prescribed to see if there is a reduction in symptoms. In some cases, blood tests measuring allergy sensitivity or skin prick testing (a procedure where a small amount of the allergen is exposed to the skin) are also used. Rarely, imaging can be used, such as a CT scan, but this is typically not necessary.[2]

What are some of the main medical treatments for allergic rhinitis?

Common treatments include medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, and/or intranasal or oral corticosteroids. Another treatment includes exposing the body to small amounts of the allergen (either through a tablet or an injection) in order to develop a better immune response over time, resulting in decreased symptoms.[2]

Have any supplements been studied for allergic rhinitis?

A number of supplements, such as probiotics, spirulina, vitamin D, vitamin C, and vitamin E have been studied. However, the existing evidence is not strong enough to make any supplementation recommendations.[3]

What probiotic strains have evidence for efficacy for hay fever?

How could diet affect allergic rhinitis?

One of the risk factors for developing allergic rhinitis later in life is having a food allergy during early childhood (<2 years old).[4] It is believed that introducing foods associated with allergy (e.g., peanuts, gluten, eggs, dairy, and shellfish) to infants may reduce the risk of developing food allergies, and ergo allergic rhinitis later in life. However, the evidence surrounding early allergenic food introduction and developing allergic rhinitis is weak. Currently, there are no dietary recommendations for improving allergic rhinitis. [5]

Are there any other treatments for allergic rhinitis?

Aside from medical treatments, symptoms are usually controlled by reducing exposure to allergens in the environment. Irritant exposure can be reduced by using air filters, regular house cleaning, saline sinus rinses, and wearing masks. There is some weak evidence that acupuncture may improve symptoms of allergic rhinitis. [6]

What causes allergic rhinitis?

In allergic rhinitis, the immune system is hypersensitized to an allergen and responds with an overreaction to remove the allergen from the body. The body releases histamine and other chemical mediators that cause symptoms of allergic rhinitis (sneezing, runny nose, etc) in an attempt to neutralize and remove the offending substance.[7] It should be noted that this reaction by the body to allergens is typically maladaptive, as the offending allergen is rarely dangerous.

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References
  1. ^The content of this page was partially adapted from MedlinePlus of the National Library of Medicine
  2. ^Dykewicz MS, Wallace DV, Amrol DJ, Baroody FM, Bernstein JA, Craig TJ, Dinakar C, Ellis AK, Finegold I, Golden DBK, Greenhawt MJ, Hagan JB, Horner CC, Khan DA, Lang DM, Larenas-Linnemann DES, Lieberman JA, Meltzer EO, Oppenheimer JJ, Rank MA, Shaker MS, Shaw JL, Steven GC, Stukus DR, Wang J, , Dykewicz MS, Wallace DV, , Dinakar C, Ellis AK, Golden DBK, Greenhawt MJ, Horner CC, Khan DA, Lang DM, Lieberman JA, Oppenheimer JJ, Rank MA, Shaker MS, Stukus DR, Wang J, , Dykewicz MS, Wallace DV, Amrol DJ, Baroody FM, Bernstein JA, Craig TJ, Finegold I, Hagan JB, Larenas-Linnemann DES, Meltzer EO, Shaw JL, Steven GCRhinitis 2020: A practice parameter update.J Allergy Clin Immunol.(2020-10)
  3. ^Pellow J, Nolte A, Temane A, Solomon EMHealth supplements for allergic rhinitis: A mixed-methods systematic review.Complement Ther Med.(2020-Jun)
  4. ^Wise SK, Lin SY, Toskala E, Orlandi RR, Akdis CA, Alt JA, Azar A, Baroody FM, Bachert C, Canonica GW, Chacko T, Cingi C, Ciprandi G, Corey J, Cox LS, Creticos PS, Custovic A, Damask C, DeConde A, DelGaudio JM, Ebert CS, Eloy JA, Flanagan CE, Fokkens WJ, Franzese C, Gosepath J, Halderman A, Hamilton RG, Hoffman HJ, Hohlfeld JM, Houser SM, Hwang PH, Incorvaia C, Jarvis D, Khalid AN, Kilpeläinen M, Kingdom TT, Krouse H, Larenas-Linnemann D, Laury AM, Lee SE, Levy JM, Luong AU, Marple BF, McCoul ED, McMains KC, Melén E, Mims JW, Moscato G, Mullol J, Nelson HS, Patadia M, Pawankar R, Pfaar O, Platt MP, Reisacher W, Rondón C, Rudmik L, Ryan M, Sastre J, Schlosser RJ, Settipane RA, Sharma HP, Sheikh A, Smith TL, Tantilipikorn P, Tversky JR, Veling MC, Wang Y, Westman M, Wickman M, Zacharek MInternational Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Allergic Rhinitis.Int Forum Allergy Rhinol.(2018-02)
  5. ^Ierodiakonou D, Garcia-Larsen V, Logan A, Groome A, Cunha S, Chivinge J, Robinson Z, Geoghegan N, Jarrold K, Reeves T, Tagiyeva-Milne N, Nurmatov U, Trivella M, Leonardi-Bee J, Boyle RJTiming of Allergenic Food Introduction to the Infant Diet and Risk of Allergic or Autoimmune Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysisJAMA.(2016 Sep 20)
  6. ^Bergmann KC, Berger M, Klimek L, Pfaar O, Werchan B, Werchan M, Zuberbier TNonpharmacological measures to prevent allergic symptoms in pollen allergy: A critical review.Allergol Select.(2021)
  7. ^Akhouri S, House SAAllergic RhinitisStatPearls.(2022-06)
  8. ^A Singh, F Hacini-Rachinel, M L Gosoniu, T Bourdeau, S Holvoet, R Doucet-Ladeveze, M Beaumont, A Mercenier, S NuttenImmune-modulatory effect of probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis NCC2818 in individuals suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis to grass pollen: an exploratory, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trialEur J Clin Nutr.(2013 Feb)
  9. ^J Z Xiao, S Kondo, N Yanagisawa, N Takahashi, T Odamaki, N Iwabuchi, K Iwatsuki, S Kokubo, H Togashi, K Enomoto, T EnomotoEffect of probiotic Bifidobacterium longum BB536 corrected in relieving clinical symptoms and modulating plasma cytokine levels of Japanese cedar pollinosis during the pollen season. A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trialJ Investig Allergol Clin Immunol.(2006)
  10. ^D J Costa, P Marteau, M Amouyal, L K Poulsen, E Hamelmann, M Cazaubiel, B Housez, S Leuillet, M Stavnsbjerg, P Molimard, S Courau, J BousquetEfficacy and safety of the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei LP-33 in allergic rhinitis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (GA2LEN Study)Eur J Clin Nutr.(2014 May)
  11. ^Manabu Kawase, Fang He, Akira Kubota, Masaru Hiramatsu, Hiroshi Saito, Toyota Ishii, Hiroshi Yasueda, Kazuo AkiyamaEffect of fermented milk prepared with two probiotic strains on Japanese cedar pollinosis in a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical studyInt J Food Microbiol.(2009 Jan 15)
  12. ^Cold, Flu, or Allergy? Know The Difference for Best Treatment.
Examine Database References
  1. Lymphocyte Count - Badar VA, Thawani VR, Wakode PT, Shrivastava MP, Gharpure KJ, Hingorani LL, Khiyani RMEfficacy of Tinospora cordifolia in allergic rhinitisJ Ethnopharmacol.(2005 Jan 15)
  2. Allergy Symptoms - Mittman PRandomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitisPlanta Med.(1990 Feb)
  3. Allergy Symptoms - Yonekura S, Okamoto Y, Yamasaki K, Horiguchi S, Hanazawa T, Matsune S, Kurono Y, Yamada T, Fujieda S, Okano M, Okubo KA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of ten-cha (Rubus suavissimus) on house dust mite allergic rhinitisAuris Nasus Larynx.(2011 Oct)
  4. Allergy Symptoms - Andersen AH, Mortensen S, Agertoft L, Pedersen SDouble-blind randomized trial of the effect of Bidro on hay fever in childrenUgeskr Laeger.(2005 Sep 19)
  5. Allergy Symptoms - Cingi C, Conk-Dalay M, Cakli H, Bal CThe effects of spirulina on allergic rhinitisEur Arch Otorhinolaryngol.(2008 Oct)
  6. Allergy Symptoms - Morteza Nourollahian, Bashir Rasoulian, Attaallah Gafari, Majid Anoushiravani, Farahzad Jabari, Mehdi BakhshaeeClinical comparison of the efficacy of spirulina platensis and cetirizine for treatment of allergic rhinitisActa Otorhinolaryngol Ital.(2020 Jun)
  7. Interferon Gamma - T K Mao, J Van de Water, M E GershwinEffects of a Spirulina-based dietary supplement on cytokine production from allergic rhinitis patientsJ Med Food.(Spring 2005)
  8. Allergy Symptoms - Işik H, Cevikbaş A, Gürer US, Kiran B, Uresin Y, Rayaman P, Rayaman E, Gürbüz B, Büyüköztürk SPotential adjuvant effects of Nigella sativa seeds to improve specific immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis patientsMed Princ Pract.(2010)
  9. Allergy Symptoms - Kalus U, Pruss A, Bystron J, Jurecka M, Smekalova A, Lichius JJ, Kiesewetter HEffect of Nigella sativa (black seed) on subjective feeling in patients with allergic diseasesPhytother Res.(2003 Dec)
  10. Allergy Symptoms - Nikakhlagh S, Rahim F, Aryani FH, Syahpoush A, Brougerdnya MG, Saki NHerbal treatment of allergic rhinitis: the use of Nigella sativaAm J Otolaryngol.(2011 Sep-Oct)
  11. Allergy Symptoms - Eleanor Barrager, Joseph R Veltmann Jr, Alexander G Schauss, Rebecca N SchillerA multicentered, open-label trial on the safety and efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitisJ Altern Complement Med.(2002 Apr)
  12. Allergy Symptoms - Takano H, Osakabe N, Sanbongi C, Yanagisawa R, Inoue K, Yasuda A, Natsume M, Baba S, Ichiishi E, Yoshikawa TExtract of Perilla frutescens enriched for rosmarinic acid, a polyphenolic phytochemical, inhibits seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in humansExp Biol Med (Maywood).(2004 Mar)
  13. Nasal Congestion - J M Braun, B Schneider, H J BeuthTherapeutic use, efficiency and safety of the proteolytic pineapple enzyme Bromelain-POS in children with acute sinusitis in GermanyIn Vivo.(Mar-Apr 2005)
  14. Nasal Congestion - Matkovic Z, Zivkovic V, Korica M, Plavec D, Pecanic S, Tudoric NEfficacy and safety of Astragalus membranaceus in the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitisPhytother Res.(2010 Feb)
  15. Mucus Production - Mazzone A, Catalani M, Costanzo M, Drusian A, Mandoli A, Russo S, Guarini E, Vesperini GEvaluation of Serratia peptidase in acute or chronic inflammation of otorhinolaryngology pathology: a multicentre, double-blind, randomized trial versus placeboJ Int Med Res.(1990 Sep-Oct)
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  17. Heart Rate Variability - Kunbootsri N, Janyacharoen T, Arrayawichanon P, Chainansamit S, Kanpittaya J, Auvichayapat P, Sawanyawisuth KThe effect of six-weeks of sauna on treatment autonomic nervous system, peak nasal inspiratory flow and lung functions of allergic rhinitis Thai patients.Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol.(2013-Jun)