Allergic rhinitis is an allergic reaction that happens when your immune system overreacts to substances that you have inhaled, such as pollen. The two types of allergic rhinitis are seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and perennial allergic rhinitis, which occurs year-round. Hay fever is caused by outdoor allergens. Perennial allergic rhinitis is caused by indoor allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, and mold.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis resemble a cold, but they are not caused by a virus the way a cold is. When you breathe in an allergen, your immune system springs into action. It releases substances known as IgEs into your nasal passages, along with inflammatory chemicals such as histamines. Your nose, sinuses, or eyes may become itchy and congested. Scientists aren't sure what causes your immune system to overreact to an allergen.

Allergic rhinitis is common, affecting about 1 in 5 Americans. Symptoms can be mild or severe. Many people who have allergic rhinitis also have asthma.

Allergic rhinitis can cause many symptoms, including the following:

• Stuffy, runny nose
• Sneezing
• Post-nasal drip
• Red, itchy, and watery eyes
• Swollen eyelids
• Itchy mouth, throat, ears, and face
• Sore throat
• Dry cough
• Headaches, facial pain or pressure
• Partial loss of hearing, smell, and taste
• Fatigue
• Dark circles under the eyes

The immune system is designed to fight harmful substances like bacteria and viruses. But when you have allergic rhinitis, your immune system overreacts to harmless substances -- like pollen, mold, and pet dander -- and launches an assault. This attack is called an allergic reaction.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis is triggered by pollen and mold spores. Sources include:

• Ragweed -- the most common seasonal allergen (fall)
• Grass pollen, in late spring and summer
• Tree pollen, in spring
• Fungus, mold growing on dead leaves, common in summer and fall

Year-round allergic rhinitis may be triggered by:

• Pet dander
• Dust and household mites
• Cockroaches
• Molds growing on wall paper, house plants, carpeting, and upholstery

• Family history of allergies
• Having other allergies, such as food allergies or eczema
• Exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke
• Male gender

Your doctor will ask about your family and personal history of allergy. You may be asked some of the following questions:

• Do symptoms change depending on the time of day or the season?
• Do you have a pet?
• Have you made changes to your diet?
• Are you taking any medications?

Your doctor will do a physical exam and may also recommend a skin test to find out what you are allergic to. In a scratch test, for example, small amounts of suspected allergens are applied to the skin with a needle prick or scratch. If there is an allergy, the area will become swollen and red. Sometimes a blood test may be used to find out which allergens you react to.

With young children, it can help to watch what they do. For example, a child with allergic rhinitis may wiggle his nose and push it upward with the palm of the hand.

The best way to control your symptoms is to avoid being exposed to the allergens that trigger your symptoms. These steps may help.

If you have hay fever, during days or seasons when airborne allergens are high:

• Stay indoors, and close the windows.
• Use an air conditioner in your home and car.
• Avoid using fans that draw in air from outdoors.
• Don't hang laundry outside to dry.
• Bathe or shower and change your clothes after being outside.
• Use a HEPA air filter in your bedroom.

If you have year-round allergies:

• Cover your pillows and mattress with dust mite covers.
• Remove carpet and install tile or hardwood floors. Use area rugs and wash them often in very hot water.
• Use blinds instead of curtains.
• Keep pets out of the bedroom.
• Use a HEPA filter on your vacuum.
• Use an air purifier.
• Wash bedding and toys such as stuffed animals in very hot water once a week.

The best way to reduce symptoms is to prevent exposure to allergens.

Drugs such as antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal corticosteroid sprays may help control allergy symptoms. Some complementary and alternative therapies may also be used to treat the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

Your doctor may recommend immunotherapy, or "allergy shots. With this treatment, you receive regular injections of an allergen, with each dose being slightly larger than the previous dose. Your immune system should gradually get used to the allergen so that it no longer reacts to it.

In addition, certain lifestyle and dietary changes may help prevent or improve symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

Lifestyle

Although you can't stay indoors during all pollen and ragweed seasons, avoiding peak exposure times can help. Use your air conditioner in your home and car, and wear a dust mask when working in the yard.

For year-round allergies, you can take the following measures.

• Get rid of carpets and upholstered furniture.
• Wash bedding every week in very hot water.
• Keep stuffed toys out of the bedroom.
• Cover pillows and beds with allergen-proof covers.

To reduce mold:

• Clean moldy surfaces. Mold is often found in air conditioners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, swamp coolers, and refrigerator drip pans.
• Use a dehumidifier indoors to reduce humidity to less than 50%.
• Fix water leaks and clean up water damage immediately.
• Make sure kitchens, bathrooms, and crawl spaces have good ventilation. Installing exhaust fans can help. Vent laundry dryers to the outside.
• Put flooring in crawl spaces.

Medications

Depending on the type of allergic rhinitis you have, your doctor may recommend medications. If you have perennial allergic rhinitis, you may need to take medication daily. If you have seasonal allergic rhinitis -- hay fever -- you may start medications a few weeks before the pollen season begins.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are available in both oral and nasal spray forms, and as prescription drugs and over-the-counter remedies. Over-the-counter antihistamines are short-acting and can relieve mild-to-moderate symptoms. All work by blocking the release of histamine in your body.

• Over-the-counter antihistamines -- Include diphenhydramine (Benadryl), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), clemastine (Tavist). These older antihistamines can cause sleepiness. Loratadine (Claritin), cetrizine (Zyrtec), and fexofenadine (Allegra) do not cause as much drowsiness as older antihistamines.
• Prescription antihistamines -- These medications are longer-acting than over-the-counter antihistamines and are usually taken once a day. They include desloratadine (Clarinex).

Decongestants

Many over-the-counter and prescription decongestants are available in pill or nasal spray form. They are often used with antihistamines.

• Oral and nasal decongestants -- Include Sudafed, Actifed, Afrin, Neo-Synephrine. Some decongestants may contain pseudoephedrine, which can raise blood pressure. People with high blood pressure or enlarged prostate should not take drugs containing pseudoephedrine. Using nasal decongestant sprays for more than 3 days can cause "rebound congestion," which makes congestion worse. Avoid using nasal decongestant sprays for more than 3 days in a row, unless your doctor tells you to. Do not use them if you have emphysema or chronic bronchitis.

Nasal corticosteroids

These prescription sprays reduce inflammation of the nose and help relieve sneezing, itching, and runny nose. It may take a few days to a week to see improvement in symptoms.

• Beclomethasone (Beconase)
• Fluticasone (Flonase)
• Mometasone (Nasonex)
• Triacinolone (Nasacort)

Leukotriene modifiers

These prescription drugs block the production of leukotrienes, which are inflammatory chemicals produced by the body. They are taken once a day and do not cause sleepiness, and are also used to treat allergic asthma. Leukotriene modifiers include montelukast (Singulair) and zafirlukast (Accolate).

Cromolyn sodium (NasalCrom)

This over-the-counter nasal spray prevents the release of histamine and helps relieve swelling and runny nose. It works best when taken before symptoms start and may needed to be used several times a day.

Nasal atropine

Ipratropium bromide (Atrovent) is a prescription nasal spray that can help relieve a very runny nose. People with glaucoma or an enlarged prostate should not use Atrovent.

Eye drops

• Antihistamine eye drops -- relieve both nasal and eye symptoms. Examples include azelastine, olopatadine, ketotifen, and levocabastine
• Decongestant eye drops -- such as phenylephrine and naphazoline

Eye drops may cause stinging or even headache.

Other Treatments

Allergy shots, or immunotherapy, are often recommended to anyone 7 years and older who has severe allergy symptoms or who also has asthma. Immunotherapy helps your immune system get used to allergens through regular injections of small doses of an allergen over a long period of time.

Nasal irrigation or nasal lavage can help reduce symptoms of allergic rhinitis, studies show. One study found that doing nasal irrigation three times a day reduced allergy symptoms after about 3 - 6 weeks. To do nasal irrigation, you can use a neti pot, bulb syringe, or squeeze bottle to flush out nasal passages with salt water.

Nutrition and Dietary Supplements

Some people with allergic rhinitis also have food allergies. If you have any food allergies, eliminate those items from your diet.

• Lactobacillus acidophilus -- One small study suggests that L. acidophilus, a type of "friendly" bacteria, might help reduce allergic reaction to pollen. More study is needed.
• Quercetin -- Quercetin is a flavonoid, a plant pigment that gives fruits and vegetables their color. In test tubes, it stops the production and release of histamine, which causes allergy symptoms such as a runny nose and watery eyes. However, there is not yet much evidence that quercetin would work the same way in humans. More studies are needed. Quercetin can potentially interfere with many medications so speak with your physician.
• Spirulina -- Preliminary test tube and animal studies suggest that spirulina, a type of blue-green algae, may help protect against harmful allergic reactions. Spirulina stops the release of histamine, which contribute to symptoms of allergic rhinitis. But researchers dont know whether it would work in people.
• Vitamin C (2,000 mg per day) -- Vitamin C has antihistamine properties and some preliminary research suggested it might help reduce allergy symptoms. But another placebo-controlled trial failed to show any effect.

Herbs

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs only under the supervision of a health care practitioner.

• Butterbur (Petasites hybridus, 500 mg per day) -- Butterbur has been used traditionally to treat asthma and bronchitis and to reduce mucus. Several scientific studies suggest it can help with allergic rhinitis. One study of 125 people with hay fever found that an extract of butterbur was as effective as Zyrtec. Another study compared butterbur to Allegra with similar findings. Both studies were small, however, so more research is needed. Researchers dont know whether taking butterbur longer than 12 - 16 weeks is safe. Butterbur can cause stomach upset, headache, and drowsiness. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, and young children, should not take butterbur. If you take any prescription medications, ask your doctor before taking butterbur.
• Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica, 600 mg per day for one week) -- Stinging nettle has been used traditionally for treating a variety of conditions, including allergic rhinitis. But studies so far are lacking. Only one small study suggested that stinging nettle might help relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Pregnant women and young children should not take stinging nettle. Talk to your doctor before taking stinging nettle if you take blood pressure medication, blood thinners, diuretics or water pills, or have diabetes.
• Tinospora cordifolia (300 mg three times daily) -- In one study, people with allergic rhinitis who took a specific formulation of tinospora (Tinofend) for 8 weeks had many fewer symptoms than those who took placebo. But some researchers have questioned the results of the study, and more research is needed. People who have diabetes or an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or Crohns disease should not take tinospora. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take it, either. Tinospora can interact negatively with diabetes medications and drugs that suppress the immune system.
• Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus, 160 mg two times per day) -- One preliminary study suggested that a specific formulation of astragalus (Lectranal) standardized to contain 40% polysaccharides reduced symptoms of allergic rhinitis including runny nose, sneezing and itching. People who have autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or Crohns disease should not take astragalus without asking their doctor. People who take lithium or drugs that suppress the immune system should not take astragalus.

Acupuncture

Some evidence suggests that acupuncture may help treat people with allergic rhinitis, although not all studies were positive. In one study that included 45 people with hay fever, acupuncture worked as well as antihistamines in improving symptoms, and the effects seemed to last longer. However, a controlled trial that compared acupuncture to placebo (sham acupuncture) found no real benefit. One study suggested that combining acupuncture with traditional Chinese herbs did help relieve symptoms.

Homeopathy

Although few studies have examined the effectiveness of specific homeopathic therapies, professional homeopaths may consider the following remedies for the treatment of allergic rhinitis symptoms based on their knowledge and experience. Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person's constitutional type -- your physical, emotional, and psychological makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

• Nux vomica -- for stuffiness with nasal discharge, dry, ticklish, and scraping nasal sensations with watery nasal discharge and a lot of sneezing; an appropriate person for this remedy is irritable and impatient.
• Arsenicum album -- for stuffiness with copious, burning nasal discharge and violent sneezing; an appropriate candidate for Arsenicum feels restless, anxious, and exhausted.
• Allium cepa -- for frequent sneezing, a lot of irritating nasal discharge and tearing eyes; this person tends to feel thirsty.
• Euphrasia -- for bland nasal discharge, with stinging, irritating tears; a suitable person for this remedy has worse nasal symptoms when lying down.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Biminne -- Biminne is a Chinese herbal formula used to treat allergic rhinitis. In a study of 58 people with year-round allergic rhinitis, biminne relieved at least some symptoms in most of the participants. People in the study took the formula five times a day for 12 weeks, and they still showed the benefit of biminne even after one year. It is not known how biminne works, or if it is safe to use for extended periods. Ask your doctor before taking it. Biminne includes these herbs:

• Chinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) -- can interact with sedatives, lithium, and diabetes medications. May also interact with statins, used to lower cholesterol.
• Ginkgo biloba -- may increase risk of bleeding and bruising. May interact with medications including blood thinners, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Advil or Aleve), and Xanax.
• Horny goat weed (Epimedium sagittatum) -- may interact with blood thinners and blood pressure medications.
• Schizandra chinensis -- may interact with many medications.
• Japanese apricot (Prunus mume) -- may interact with blood thinners.
• Ledebouriella divaricata
• Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) -- may interact with lithium and drugs that suppress the immune system.

Using some nasal decongestant sprays for long periods of time can make your allergic rhinitis worse. Call your health care provider if you develop severe symptoms, if treatment that helped before is no longer working, or if symptoms do not get better with treatment.

Pregnancy

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid the following:

• Decongestants, unless you ask your doctor
• Stinging nettle
• Chinese skullcap
• Butterbur (Petasites) extracts
• High doses of vitamin C
• Tinospora cordifolia
• Astragalus

Warnings and Precautions

Do not take stinging nettle without talking to your doctor first if you take blood pressure medication, anticoagulants (blood thinners), diuretics (water pills), or have diabetes.

Do not take tinospora cordifolia is you have diabetes or an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or Crohns disease.

Do not take astragalus if you have an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or Crohns disease should not take astragalus. People who take lithium should not take astragalus.

Butterbur may interact with some medications that are processed by the liver. If you take any prescription medications, ask your doctor before taking butterbur.

Skullcap can make you sleepy, and should be used with caution or not at all with antihistamines that also make you drowsy.

Prognosis and Complications

You can treat symptoms of allergic rhinitis, but they will appear each time you are exposed to an allergen.

Although perennial allergic rhinitis is not a serious condition, it can interfere with your life. Depending on how severe your symptoms are, allergic rhinitis can cause you to miss school or work. Medication may cause drowsiness and other side effects. Your allergies could also trigger other conditions, such as eczema, asthma, sinusitis, and ear infection (called otitis media). Seasonal allergies may get better as you get older.

Immunotherapy or allergy shots may cause uncomfortable side effects, such as hives and rash. Rarely, it may have dangerous side effects such as anaphylaxis. It usually works in about two-thirds of cases, and may require years of treatment.

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