Andrew Moore asked:


Allergies are quite common today with practically everyone suffering from some form of allergy or the other. It is the overreaction of the immune system to antigens like bee stings, some food, insect stings or pollen that triggers an allergy. There are different types of allergic reactions that manifest itself in different ways in the body.

Allergies are generally mild with mild symptoms that go within a few days of getting rid of the trigger of the allergen. Occasionally, there are cases of people suffering from anaphylaxis which is a life threatening condition where there is difficulty in breathing and loss in consciousness.

One type of allergic reaction is seasonal allergic rhinitis, or hay fever. This is an allergic response to pollen and other microscopic substances that exist at certain times of the year. There are also conditions where allergic rhinitis works out to be perennial, or year round.

One of the types of allergic reactions is allergy to insect stings, which is very common. Some people however will not be aware of their allergy to insect stings until they are stung by an insect. More often than not, it is the second sting that triggers an allergy reaction while the first sting produces only a normal sting reaction. However if you have an allergy to insect stings, the severity of the reaction varies from person to person.

Allergy to latex is another of the types of allergic reactions where the person is allergic to substances made of natural latex. One of the main sources of this allergic reaction is rubber gloves while sometimes, latex that is used in other products like condoms and medical devices can trigger a reaction.

Mold allergy is an allergy that does not have a defined season as mold and fungi grow in all weather and thrive both indoors and outdoors. However some forms of outdoor mold tend to thrive in higher concentrations from spring to late fall. There are some people who suffer from allergy to cosmetics. With cosmetic allergy, you experience skin irritation because of some ingredients in the cosmetics like fragrances and preservatives. The two types of allergic reactions here are irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis.

Some people are allergic to pets; where it is not the pet’s feathers or fur that triggers a reaction. It is the invisible flakes of animal skin called dander that triggers sneezing, watery eyes and stuffy noses in some people. When you suffer from food allergies, it means that some food likes peanuts and jalapeños trigger an allergic reaction.

Symptoms here are like symptoms for different types of allergic reactions like hives, swelling of the throat and tongue, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and a drop in blood pressure.

People suffering from allergic must know how to get first aid if it happens to them. Friend and family will be helpful if they know what it is. You will not know when it will be helpful.

Alexander Chong asked:


What is actually allergy rhinitis? Allergy rhinitis is an allergic disease, which is caused by the sensitinogen that reacting on the mucous membranes in the nasal cavity. It has two types; those are perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis. Perennial allergic rhinitis occurs throughout the year; whereas, seasonal allergic rhinitis usually occurs during the blossoming or flowering season. In this season, plants start to release their pollen for breeding purpose. Pollen is one of the sensitinogens to the allergic rhinitis. Clinical features of allergic rhinitis are; itching in the nose, sneezing, watery nasal discharge and nasal obstruction. There are about 20 % of adults and children have seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis.

Although it is prevalence in most of the countries regardless tropical or seasonal, most of the conditions are not treated adequately and the consequence is that allergic rhinitis becomes chronic. The chronic state of allergic rhinitis usually will lead to more serious complications of the upper and lower airways such as asthma, sinusitis and otitis media with effusion. Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear. Fluid is built up in the middle ear and causes temporary lose of hearing. However, if this chronic disease is not treated properly, it may lead to permanent hearing impairment.

 A few medical scientists had carried out surveys to study the epidemiologic links between allergic rhinitis and other airway diseases. What they had found out were, 78% of patients who had asthma were also had allergic rhinitis. They also found out that 99% of adults and 93% of adolescents, who had allergic asthma, also had allergic rhinitis. Besides, the other study that had been carried out for 23 years was found out that college students who previously had allergic rhinitis had three times higher the possibility to have asthma compared to those students who had not had allergic rhinitis What is actually allergy rhinitis? Allergy rhinitis is an allergic disease, which is caused by the sensitinogen that reacting on the mucous membranes in the nasal cavity. It has two types; those are perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis. Perennial allergic rhinitis occurs throughout the year; whereas, seasonal allergic rhinitis usually occurs during the blossoming or flowering season. In this season, plants start to release their pollen for breeding purpose. Pollen is one of the sensitinogens to the allergic rhinitis. Clinical features of allergic rhinitis are; itching in the nose, sneezing, watery nasal discharge and nasal obstruction. There are about 20 % of adults and children have seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis.

Although it is prevalence in most of the countries regardless tropical or seasonal, most of the conditions are not treated adequately and the consequence is that allergic rhinitis becomes chronic. The chronic state of allergic rhinitis usually will lead to more serious complications of the upper and lower airways such as asthma, sinusitis and otitis media with effusion. Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear. Fluid is built up in the middle ear and causes temporary lose of hearing. However, if this chronic disease is not treated properly, it may lead to permanent hearing impairment.

A few medical scientists had carried out surveys to study the epidemiologic links between allergic rhinitis and other airway diseases. What they had found out were, 78% of patients who had asthma were also had allergic rhinitis. They also found out that 99% of adults and 93% of adolescents, who had allergic asthma, also had allergic rhinitis. Besides, the other study that had been carried out for 23 years was found out that college students who previously had allergic rhinitis had three times higher the possibility to have asthma compared to those students who had not had allergic rhinitis before.

Many researches and works had been carried out to study the epidemiologic link between allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. The results had been well documented. The earlier study showed that 53% of children, who had allergic rhinitis, also had sinusitis. They proved this from the children abnormal sinus radiographs. Whereas, recent study showed that up to 70% of children, who had allergy and chronic rhinitis, had abnormal sinus radiographs. 78% of the patients who had recurrent sinus infection, rhinitis allergy was coming together with their extensive sinus disease. For the children who had otitis media with effusion, 40 to 50% of them had allergic rhinitis. This was confirmed by positive allergy skin tests or increased serum IgE antibodies to specific allergens test.

Scientist had proposed a model for the development of sinusitis and otitis media. Their proposed model assumes that the earliest cause for sinusitis is not bacterial infection but it is due to the obstruction in the nasal cavity, which hinders the normal movement of air and secretions in and out of sinuses. Virus that causes nasal inflammation is upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) type, which is called rhinovirus. Research had been carried out to study the effect of this virus to the nasal diseases. The result showed that when rhinovirus is inoculated into the nasal passage of a group people, one third of these people would develop sinus abnormities and typical sinus disease symptoms. Another study also showed that 87% of healthy adult, who voluntarily went through self-diagnosed colds, had maxillary sinuses illness.

Fluid inside the sinus cavity must be drained normally to keep the nasal healthy. When nasal being infected by bacteria or virus, or exposure to allergen, dust or chemicals, thicken secretion will be developed and it has higher possibility blocks the narrowed sinus ostia (opening that connect to the sinus cavity). Accumulation of these secretions in the sinus cavity will lead to further obstruction, mucosal swelling and also thicken the sinus mucosa. This will create an anaerobic environment that further favorite the bacterial growth and lead to infection. Congested sinus ostia must be resolved if not, it will lead to recurrent acute and eventually chronic nasal disease. This model also explained why chronic sinusitis is resistant to the antimicrobials treatment alone. To treat the sinusitis properly, antihistamines and corticosteroids have to be used as a combination with the antimicrobials treatment.

A similar model had been developed by scientist to explain the occurrence of otitis media with effusion. 83% of the children had at least once occurrence of acute otits media by the time they reach 3 years old. This model hypothesizes that nasal inflammation that is caused by allergens or URTIs virus will further cause inflammatory swelling and obstruction of the Eustachian tube. Obstruction of the Eustachian tube will increase negative pressure in the middle area and without improper ventilation; fluids will accumulate in the middle ear. Obstructed Eustachian tube will open occasionally with an effusion and this will **** the inner nasal secretion, which contain bacteria, virus and allergens into the middle ear cavity. Consequently, this will cause acute bacterial otitis media.

From the information above that have been gathered from various scientific publications, we know that common nasal allergy should not be left untreated. This is because it will lead to obstruction, fluid accumulation, bacterial infection and acute disease. If these diseases are not treated properly or successfully, a chronic state of inflammation, nasal congestion, and sinus infection will be developed. And it can further cause mucosal damage and ultimately, chronic disease. If the disease spreads to the middle ear, it will cause permanent hearing impairment

 

Juliet Cohen asked:


Nasal polyps are the most common tumors of the nasal cavity. Nasal polyposis can impair a person’s quality of life more than perennial allergic rhinitis. Nasal polyps are soft, jelly-like overgrowths of the lining of the sinuses. They look like grapes on the end of a stalk. Large polyps can bloc the nose and increase the risk of sinusitis. They may be yellowish, grey or pink in colour. They are common and are not cancerous. Nasal polyposis results from chronic inflammation of the nasal and sinus mucous membranes. Chronic inflammation causes a reactive hyperplasia of the intranasal mucosal membrane, which results in the formation of polyps.

Nasal polyps can vary significantly in size. There may be only one but sometimes several develop like a ’small bunch of grapes’ on a stem. Polyps usually affect both nostrils. Nasal polyps can vary greatly in size. There may be only one but sometimes several grow like a ’small bunch of grapes’ on a stem. The cause of the inflammation is certain conditions make nose inflammation and polyps more likely. These include: asthma, allergy to aspirin, cystic fibrosis, and some rare conditions of the nose. Nasal polyps can occur along with many other respiratory diseases, such as allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, asthma, and aspirin allergy.

Nasal polyps also occur in a majority of people with Churg-Strauss syndrome, a rare disease that inflames the blood vessels (vasculitis). Nasal polyps occur in around 1 in 200 people. It appears that nasal polyps are more common in people with non-allergic rhinitis and non-allergic asthma, rather than allergic types of these conditions. Nasal polyps can affect anyone. However, most cases occur in people over the age of 40 years. They are four times more common in men than in women. In general, women are more likely to have nasal polyps than are men. Nasal polyps are uncommon in children.

Medications are the most common treatment for nasal polyps. Surgery may be needed to eliminate larger growths. Topical nasal steroid sprays, such as Flonase and Nasonex, can help decrease the size of nasal polyps and prevent polyps from growing back after surgery. Use allergy shots in an attempt to treat or stop nasal polyps from growing back after surgery. Intranasal corticosteroid sprays reduce the growth of small intranasal polyps are most effective in the postoperative period. Prevention is better than cure. Avoid over-the-counter saline sprays that contain additives, such as benzalkonium, which can actually inflame the mucous lining of your nose.

Neelima Reddy asked:


Itchiness, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and redness are some of the common symptoms that majority of the people experiences as allergy symptoms.

The most effective way to fight against particular allergen is immunotherapy or allergy shot, but some people will get frightened to get allergy shot.

Allergy shots hold a little amount of substance that fights against the particular allergen. For example, if the person is allergic to pollen, a small amount of substance called pollen will be added to the shot.

A small amount will be given so that the body will get used to fight against the allergen and if the body comes in contact with that substance next time, body will be familiar with that.

Who are not eligible to take allergy shot?

Allergy shots are not safe for everyone. Although most of the people experienced positive results from these shots, they are not suitable for all. People who are suffering from asthma, heart attack, and respiratory problems, pregnant women, and children under age of five are not recommended to receive allergy shot.

Alternatively, certain individuals are experiencing some side effects such as:

• Feelings of shock when the shot is initially injected

• Lightheadedness

• Nausea

So, for these reasons, the patient should stay in the doctor’s office for at least fifteen to twenty minutes after receiving the shot.

Benefits of allergy shots:

• Allergy shots improve allergic rhinitis, hay fever, bee sting allergies, drug allergies, and eye allergies.

• In some cases, allergy shots improve asthma symptoms also. The most common reaction to allergy shot is swelling at the place where the shot is given.

The success of this immunotherapy varies from person to person depending on the severity of the person’s allergy and the number of substances the person is allergic to.

In addition to the traditional allergy shots, there are new approaches to immunotherapy procedures to treat allergies.

Oral immunotherapy works similar to the allergy shot. In this method, increasing doses of allergen will be given to slowly build up the patient’s tolerance. The only difference with oral immunotherapy from allergy shot is with oral immunotherapy extract of allergen is used as drops. In this method, generally the drops are placed under the tongue and then swallowed.

Intranasal immunotherapy method involves intranasal administration of grass and house dust mite allergen extracts, which reduces the nasal symptoms such as “nasal allergy”.

The side effect with intranasal immunotherapy is nasal irritation. When compared to the traditional allergy shots, intranasal immunotherapy has no long lasting benefits.

Rush immunotherapy involves quick build up to the maintenance dose of extract. In this method of treatment, during early phase increasing doses of allergen will be given every few hours rather than a few days. Since there is a great risk involved with this rush immunotherapy, this should be done in hospital under close supervision.

Some people will experience severe reaction to the allergy shot, which is called “anaphylaxis”. In case of bad reaction with this shot, physicians will do appropriate treatment to stop this reaction.

Since allergy shots are not good for everyone, talking to the physician before taking this shot is more advisable. Visit Allergy Symptoms

Chris Marshall asked:


Seasonal Allergies usually occur during spring, fall and summer. Winter is not a common time for Allergies because there are not as many plants in bloom during this time due to the cold weather. When plants bloom and flourish, so do seasonal Allergies but this does not mean that this allergy is caused mainly by plants. The weather can also play a big role in triggering seasonal allergies.

Seasonal Allergies Due To Pollen And Dust

Pollen is one of the main causes of seasonal Allergies as well as dust and mold spores. These are common occurrences during spring and summer as well as during fall. The pollen from plants can cause serious hay fever in some individuals who are highly sensitive to the allergens they contain. Pollen tends to become airborne when the right season comes and these cause allergic reactions in individuals.

There is actually little that you can do about being allergic to pollen, dust and mold spores. Seasonal Allergies are usually controlled and not eliminated with the use of antihistamines. Although, not all areas of the city may have pollen, mold spores or dust, chances are, whenever you go around the city, you will encounter airborne mold spores, pollen and dust separately. If you are sensitive to any of these allergens, then you are highly likely to have an allergic reaction.

What To Expect From Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal Allergies usually manifest themselves as sneezing, runny noses, itchy eyes and other allergic rhinitis symptoms. You might initially think that you have a cold but actually there is a great deal of difference between the two. Seasonal Allergies are usually not accompanied by fever whereas a cold is and a cold usually lasts for around 10 days compared to seasonal Allergies that last for as long as you are exposed to the allergens.

Seasonal Allergies also react well to antihistamines whereas colds to decongestants. Allergies that rely on seasons also occur during summer, spring and fall compared to a cold that usually occur during winter. Allergies are also dependent on the individual’s reaction to allergens while colds can be transmitted from one person to another.

As stated earlier, these kinds of Allergies react well to antihistamines. Some may need stronger medication to control but the key is to lessen your exposure to the allergens. Allergens updates are also posted by the government to help out those who are sensitive to hay fever and other allergens.

Alexander Chong asked:

Otitis media is an inflammation that occurs in the middle ear. Middle ear space contains fluid that could be easily infected and the infected middle ear is called otitis media with effusion. The cause of the chronic OME (otitis media with effusion) for most of the allergic rhinitis patients is mainly due to the IgE-mediated allergies. IgE-mediated allergy is the allergy that happens when IgE antibody (one type of the white blood cell) binds with the mast cell. IgE antibody is being produced by the plasma cell when foreign particular from outside of the body entering into the blood through nasal mucosal surface. Once the IgE antibody binds with the mast cell around the nose, histamine is secreted from this cell and it is the main chemical that causes itching and hypersensitive of the nose.

According to the publication by a group of scientists, 50% of the children who had chronic OME also had nasal allergy. Effects of the seasonal allergic rhinitis to the Eustachian tube function and middle ear pressure had been studied by a few groups of medical scientists. According to one of the studies, Eustachian tube of the pollen allergic patients become obstructed increases from 15% to 60% from the starting to the maximum of the pollen exposure. In one of the studies, ragweed pollen, which is seasonal pollen, was let it exposed to a group of people. What had been discovered is that it will cause immune reactions in the Eustachian tube and nose. Apart from this study, the other study reported that house-dust mite, which was a perennial allergen, also caused Eustachian tube obstruction. In the same study, they found out that 55% of the adults, who had nasal allergy, experienced the development of the Eustachian tube dysfunction when this group of adult was exposed to house-dust mite. In the following study, new thing that had been found out was Eustachian tube obstruction happened more frequently for the patients who had allergic rhinitis. In allergen provocation studies, scientist found out that nasal obstruction usually occurred before the development of the Eustachian tube obstruction. In allergen provocation study, individuals who took part in this study were exposed to allergen to provoke their nasal allergy symptom. In this study, researchers also discovered that various of inflammatory mediators such as histamine have been detected in middle ear effusions of the children who had OME. If Eustachian tube obstruction that was caused by perennial exposure to allergen such as house-dust mite was left it untreated for quite a sometime, it could form middle ear disease, especially, when priming phenomenon occurs in the Eustachian tube. Priming phenomenon happens when mucosa in the organ responds to lower doses of allergen with repeated exposure. Allergic rhinitis could have priming phenomenon too when the mucosa in the nasal passage responds to low amount of allergen that has been inhaled through the nostril. For the Eustachian tube obstruction that was caused by seasonal exposure to allergen such as ragweed pollen, its physiologic hyperresponsiveness could extend beyond the ragweed season.

Studies show that half of the newly occurrence otitis media are diagnosed immediately after patient had been infected by viral URTI (virus that causes flu and common cold). By using traditional standard culture techniques, it is quite rare that viruses could be isolated from the middle ear effusions in the patient with otitis media. However, with the newly developed PCR-based molecular analysis, viruses in the middle ear effusions could be detected and discovered that 53% of the middle ear effusions are positive for viruses. An experimental, which was carried out by infecting real human with rhinovirus-39, had been carried out in Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh to study the effect of this virus to the middle ear pressure and Eustachian tube. Result of this experiment showed a substantial increase of Eustachian tube dysfunction and also abnormal middle ear in approximately 30% of the people who had been infected in this study. However, all these people who had been infected by this virus had less possibility to develop an otitis media disease. In another study, where influenza A virus was intranasally inoculated to a group of peoples, 59% of the inoculated people experienced the development of middle ear under pressure and only 25% of these people developed otitis media. In this study, one of the inoculated people developed middle ear under pressure followed by purulent otitis media. This patient middle ear effusion was taken for PCR analysis and it showed positive result for both influenza A and Streptococcus Pneumoniae. Streptococcus Pneumoniae is some kind of spherical, Gram-positive, alpha-hemolytic bacterium and it is a member of the genus Streptococcus.  In this group of inoculated people, 80% of them who had infected by this virus experienced the development of Eustachian tube dysfunction and 80% of them had middle ear under pressure. With this group of infected people, five of them had developed OME on the 4th day after the viral exposure. One of the patients had dizziness and vertigo symptoms, which is mainly due to the inner ear malfunction. All these studies support the causes of otitis media by URTIs virus and causes of otitis media starting from the development of Eustachian tube obstruction and abnormal middle ear pressure. In the recent publication about the study of a group of children with acute otitis media, micro-organisms in the fluids of the middle ears of the children were isolated by the investigator of this study. They found out that 65% of the fluid samples that had been collected contained both bacteria and viruses. These results show that virus infection in the middle ear creates an environmental that is suitable for the breeding of bacteria.

Based on the information that had been collected from a few recent publications of the studies of the relationships of the allergic rhinitis to the OME (otitis media with effusion), we could conclude that allergic rhinitis or common cold/flu will cause Eustachian tube obstruction and middle ear pressure. When the situation becomes uncontrollable, Otitis media with effusion will develop and this may could permanent hearing impairment. Therefore, allergic rhinitis and common cold/flu should be treated immediately without any delay. This is because these common illnesses may become serious and develop to chronic sinusitis disease and otitis media with effusions, which is quite difficult to cure.

Steve Marshal Caldwell asked:

Allergy is the most common condition through which every individual suffers at least once in his lifespan. Allergy is caused by the naturally occurring substances known as allergens. When these allergens react with your body, it release the histamines to control the effect of the allergens, hence allergy is caused. Pollen, dust, and bee venom are the types of allergens. Allergy is the result of excessive activation of certain white blood cells called mast cells and basophils by a type of antibody known as IgE, resulting in an extreme inflammatory response. Another definition of allergy explains it as an abnormal reaction by an individual’s immune system against a normally harmless substance. Some common well-known allergic reactions are allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergies, hay fever, hives, and eczema.

Allergies are categorized in the different types on the basis of the body parts they affect and on the basis of allergens. Different types of allergies are as follows:

1. Food Allergy

Food allergy is the one of the most common type of allergy. You can not decide that who is allergic to which food item. The most common symptoms of the food allergies are runny nose, itching, urticaria, vomiting, nausea, coughing, and angioedema. When this reaction becomes severe it is called as anaphylaxis. Children suffer from the food allergic reactions the most because there immune system is not well developed and they take that food for the first time.

2. Gastrointestinal Tract Allergy

Gastrointestinal tract allergy is caused when you eat any item or inhale any item that contains allergens. The allergen enters the gastrointestinal tract and causes the irritation of the tract. Abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea are the symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract allergy.

3. Pet Allergies

Many individuals are allergic to pets. Allergens are found in the skin, hairs, saliva, and urine of pets. These allergens cause the eyes, nose, and skin allergies. Rashes, such as eczema and hives (urticaria) and irritation of eyes and nose are the symptoms caused by the pet allergies.

4. Tree or Grass Pollen Allergy

Maximum number of individual suffers from the allergies caused by the pollens that are released by the trees and plants during the flowering season. These allergies are generally called as the seasonal allergies. It is called as the allergic rhinitis. Sneezing and coughing are common symptoms caused by pollen allergy.

5. Dust Allergy

Dust allergy is caused when the dust particles (allergens) enters your nose, eyes, ear, and skin. Dust allergy is the one of allergies that can lead to the dangerous consequences. Swelling of nasal mucosa, impaired hearing due to entrance of allergens in eustachian tube, dead skin as the pores of the skin are filled with dust, and redness of eyes are the common symptoms of the dust allergy.

6. Smoke Allergy

Air pollution is growing day by day because of the smoke released from the different places. Some individuals are allergic to smoke released from vehicles, some are allergic to smoke released from factories, and some individuals to the smoke from cigarettes. These allergic show the symptoms like coughing, bronchoconstriction, wheezing and dyspnea, sometimes outright attacks of asthma.

7. Insects Stings and Bites Allergies

Allergies are caused when the insects stings or bites. Throat swelling, hives over the entire body, difficulty breathing, nausea, diarrhea, and shock are some of the symptoms caused by insect bites. Rashes on the skin are also noticed on the part where the insect bites.

8. Latex Allergy

This is the allergy seen among the individuals who are allergic to the rubber latex. Latex allergy may cause allergic reactions ranging from sneezing or a runny nose to anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition. Doctor should be consulted immediately in case of severe allergic reactions.

9. Clothes Allergy

Yes, it is true that some people are allergic to clothes. Laundry detergents can cause people to break out in an itchy rash; some individuals are particularly allergic to cotton or nylon and they get red rashes on their body when they wear those clothes. Even eczema is noted in some cases.

10. Hay fever

A very common allergy caused by the pollens or anthers released by the trees or plants during the flowering season and by the release of leaves during the shedding season. Sneezing, itchy nose and/or throat, nasal congestion, and coughing are common symptoms of hay fever. You can also notice fever in the individual suffering from the hay fever.

11. Medicines Allergy

Some cosmetics or some medicines cause allergic reactions on the people either externally or internally. Antibiotics are the most common medications that cause the allergies. If you suspect a medicine allergy, talk to your doctor first before assuming a reaction is a sign of allergy. Note: Please take the medications only and only after taking the permission from the doctor.

12. Chemical Allergy

Dyes, household cleaners, and pesticides used on lawns or plants can also cause allergic reactions in some people. Sometimes even the harmful chemicals are released in the water bodies by some chemical factories and thus cause the allergic reactions when we drink that water or wash the face with that water. Please note that this is the most severe case of allergy.

Juliet Cohen asked:

Nonallergic rhinitis is a syndrome resulting from nasal inflammation that encompasses several distinct diagnoses. Nonallergic rhinitis may be diagnosed by means of clinical evaluation or by means of allergen skin testing or radioallergosorbent testing. This type of rhinitis is not as well understood. Although not triggered by allergy, the symptoms are often the same as seen with allergic rhinitis. The symptoms of nonallergic rhinitis are similar to those of hay fever (allergic rhinitis), but no allergy is involved. Nonallergic rhinitis affects approximately 17 million people in the U.S.- both children and adults. The distinction between allergic and nonallergic rhinitis can be difficult to distinguish clinically, but the distinction may be important for prognosis and treatment decisions. Many symptoms of nonallergic rhinitis are similar to allergic rhinitis, but are more chronic, occurring year-round, and are often worse in winter. Irritants such as fumes, fresh newsprint, strong odors, smoke and various types of dust may bring on symptoms. A diagnosis of nonallergic rhinitis is made after an allergy cause is ruled out. This often requires allergy skin or blood tests. A physical examination, allergy testing and a CT scan of the nose and sinuses are often used to assess and diagnose the condition of nonallergic rhinitis.

Causes of Nonallergic rhinitis

The common causes and risk factor’s of Nonallergic rhinitis include the following:

Blood vessels in your nose expanding (dilating), filling the nasal lining with blood and fluid.

Inflammation of the lining of the nose.

Smoke and other irritants.

Temperature or atmospheric changes.

Alcohol.

Psychological and Emotional factors.

Prolonged use of decongestant nasal drops or sprays.

Exposure to irritants.

Symptoms of Nonallergic rhinitis

Some sign and symptoms related to Nonallergic rhinitis are as follows:

Stuffy nose.

Congestion.

Mucus (phlegm) in the throat (postnasal drip).

Sneezing.

Postnasal drainage.

Itchy nose, throat, eyes, and ears.

Treatment of Nonallergic rhinitis

Here is list of the methods for treating Nonallergic rhinitis:

Use an over-the-counter nasal saline spray or homemade saltwater solution to flush the nose of irritants and help thin the mucus and soothe the membranes in your nose.

Antihistamines help to reduce the effects of histamine, which can decrease the symptoms of itching, sneezing, or runny nose.

Turbinate reduction is also used.

If your symptoms aren’t easily controlled by decongestants or antihistamines, your doctor may suggest a prescription corticosteroid nasal spray, such as budesonide (Rhinocort), fluticasone (Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex) or triamcinolone (Nasacort).

Pseudoephedrine-containing drugs (Sudafed, Actifed, others) and phenylephrine.

Surgery has a limited role.

Adithya Adi asked:


Asthma

Bronchial asthma (from Greek, “breath” and often simplistic just asthma), and is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the airways with lasting history of hypersensitivity. In vulnerable individuals, the inflammation leads to paroxysmal dyspnea caused by a narrowing of the airways – a so-called bronchial obstruction (definition of the international consensus report). This airway narrowing is caused by increased secretion of mucus, spasm of the bronchial and formation of edema of the bronchial mucosa, it is reversible by treatment regress) (. A variety of stimuli cause the increase of the sensitivity of the airways (bronchial hyperreactivity or hyperresponsiveness) and the associated inflammation. Five percent of adults and seven to ten percent of children suffering from bronchial asthma.

Word origin

Asthma is a 16th-century since the German detectable borrowing from Greek, asthma, which in turn, even morphologically obscure Indo-European from a root word hma with the meaning “breathe” seems to be derived.

Causes

causes (etiology) of various shapes

They do not distinguish the allergic (extrinsic) asthma from allergic (intrinsic) asthma. In its pure form, but these occur only in about ten percent of the patients in the majority of hybrids are observed. While more common in children allergic asthma occurs between the ages piled on non-allergic form. Cigarette smoke in the parental home favors asthma. There is also evidence that cultural and civilizational factors, such as certain drugs also promote applications in early childhood asthma.

Allergic asthma

Exogenous allergic asthma is triggered when the appropriate genetic predisposition to atopy by external stimuli (allergenic substances in the environment, called allergens). These immunoglobulins are formed of type E (IgE), the effect will interact with specific allergens, the allergy-causing secretion of neurotransmitters such as histamine, leukotrienes and bradykinin from mast cells. These substances will then trigger the airway constriction. In addition to this immediate response of type I after inhalation of the allergen can occur after 6 to 12 hours for a delayed reaction, which is triggered by the type of immunoglobulin G (IgG). Often, both reactions occur.

For a polygenic inheritance system speaks the observation that children of parents who both suffer from allergic asthma, a disease risk of 60-80%. On the island of Tristan da Cunha half the population suffers from asthma due to family inheritance. Hay fever (), seasonal allergic rhinitis, which like asthma is an inflammatory condition due to allergy to the mucosa of the nasopharyngeal area is, can the lower respiratory tract and then spread to asthma (run “Exchange Floor”). Almost one quarter of these patients  developed this after more than 10 years, a pollen asthma. In addition, at the beginning usually a specific allergen at the center, over the years, however, it is often used to extend the range trigger so that the allergen avoidance for patients and more difficult or even impossible.

There are indications that rural life to protect unborn children against asthma: children of women who had contact with animals during pregnancy, grain and hay to get in later life, rare allergic respiratory and skin diseases. For some protection against these complaints is an ongoing contact with livestock or grain needed.

Non-allergic asthma

The endogenous non-allergic asthma, however, can be caused by other stimuli, infections, mostly respiratory intolerances, medications – so-called analgesics-asthma (a pseudo-reaction to pain medication, mostly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin), exposure to poisonous (toxic) or irritating substances (solvents, plasticizers, cold air, food additives, and others), special physical effort and the reflux disease (reflux) are possible causes of stomach acid that form. Some links and other causes have not yet been clarified.

According to a study room sprays and cleaning products for spraying the risk of respiratory symptoms and asthma can increase significantly.

Pathogenesis

For disease development (pathogenesis) three pathophysiologic processes are characteristic:

inflammation of the bronchi

Allergens or other stimuli trigger an inflammatory response of the bronchial mucosa. This has a central role in asthma. In addition to mast cells and their distributed messenger substances (inflammatory mediators, see above) play eosinophils and T lymphocytes have an important role.

Bronchial hyperreactivity

For most asthmatics can demonstrate nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity (general respiratory hypersensitivity to stimuli). The hyper-reactivity can often be objectified by the inhalation of irritating substances, such as ) when Methacholintest, histamine test or stress, such as Rennie (through the effort and the cooling of the bronchial tubes in the race, especially in children, or by cold provocation.

Lack of bronchial Cleaning (clearance)

The obstruction is the relocation of the lumen of the airways (reducing the available cross-section) as a result (of mucosal edema fluid in the mucous membrane), or impaired by increased mucus secretion (Hyperkrinie or Dyskrinie) and bronchospasm (constriction of the smooth muscle of the bronchi) . This is the self of the lung to a halt: The secretions can not drain and strengthens his injury to full relocation.

Alexander Chong asked:


Allergic rhinitis is an atopic disease, which is inherited from the parent. If both your parents have allergic rhinitis or other respiratory diseases such as asthma, tuberculosis, and emphysema, the probability that you have these kinds of respiratory diseases is 50%. If one of your parents has respiratory diseases, the probability that you inherit their diseases is 25%. If both of your parents do not have any respiratory diseases, your chances to have respiratory diseases are no more than 12.5%. Sometimes, what has happened during pregnancy can cause allergic rhinitis to the newly born baby. The immunological status of the mother during pregnancy may cause the newly born baby has allergic rhinitis. Pregnant mothers who are smoking, drinking coffee and alcohol usually have poor immunological status, which can also cause newly born infant has allergic rhinitis or other respiratory diseases. This is because all these acts can cause high IgE antibody level in umbilical blood. Apart that, using bottle-feeding to feed milk to infant, early introduction of several kinds of food and early exposure to certain allergens and pollutants can cause nasal allergy to the newly born infant.  

Allergic rhinitis symptoms change with age. At the earlier stage, children are mostly sensitive to seasonal allergens. After they have grown older, they usually become sensitive to perennial allergens. Therefore, after they have got over the symptom that is caused by seasonal allergens, they may still keep on the symptoms due to the perennial allergens. When the children’s age is increasing, they may have higher risk to have bronchial hyperreactivity and asthma. 17 to 19% of them will have asthma after grow up. To protect them from getting asthma, perennial immunotherapy should be used at the early stage. Moreover, the risk of getting asthma does not depend to age when the allergic rhinitis started, family history of atopic disease, sex, severity of symptoms at the starting period and treatment.

Allergic rhinitis started when the atopic individual meets the antigens that are able to stimulate the IgE response. So, what are substances that can act as allergens? Allergens usually are airborne particles, which have molecular weight ranging from 30 to 40,000 daltons and also with diameter ranging from 2 to 60 µm. Most of them have diameter more than 15 µm, which can deposit onto the nasal, pharyngeal and ocular surface. Chemically, these particles are proteins, which link to some small unit of carbohydrate. Particles that have these kinds of characters are pollen, acarids, animal dandruff and fungi.

Pollens that are released from grams, weeds and trees during breeding season usually cause seasonal allergic rhinitis. Only light pollens that can be pollinated by wind can exist in air and cause a high natural exposure to the allergic rhinitis patient. The seriousness depends to the concentration of the pollens in the atmosphere. Individual with allergic rhinitis who lives in suburban area will be seriously affected by these seasonal pollens compared to the one who lives in city. Surrounding temperature also gives an impact to the pollens concentration in air. Usually, in warmer environment, plants release more pollens compared to cold environment. Most of the plants breed in late spring and summer that is the warmest season. Windy weather will cause the pollens scatter around in air and this will cause the most exposure to the allergic rhinitis patient. The better day is rainy day. Rain water can wash all the pollens in air and bring them down to the ground. Surrounding air becomes fresher and cleaner after raining.       

The main culprit of the perennial nasal allergy is house-dust mites. The acarids that are commonly found in the house dust are Dermatophagoides pteronyssimus and farinae, Euroglyphus maynei and Blomia tropicalis. Substances that are directly responsible to the nasal allergy from these dust mites are their body and metabolic products. Usually, mites grow rapidly in damp and warm climate. Therefore, sensitization to acarids depends to where you are actually living. Nasal allergy for patients who live in tropical and equatorial regions have higher possibility causes by acarids because these regions climate is promote mites growth. House-dust mites grow at maximized concentration when surrounding humidity level is between 70 to 80 % and with the presence of high temperature. Nasal allergy symptoms will develop when the level of dust mite concentration reaches 2 µg/g in air. Conversely, in high mountains with dry and cold climate have lowest level of dust mites because this climate prevents the mite growth. Animals also are the other source of aeroallergens. These aeroallergens are present in the animal’s saliva, feces, urine and dandruff. Therefore, nasal allergy can be caused by domestic animals such as cat and dog and also wild rats and mice.

Air pollutants enhance the sensitization of the nasal allergy by the allergens. Air pollutants can be divided to two groups that are outdoor pollutants, which are released from industrial works, automobile exhaust and domestic heating, and indoor pollutants such as tobacco smoke, furnishings, wood and coal burning and heater. Chemically, air pollutants consist of oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and black smoke. How actually air pollutants enhance sensitization of nasal allergy is not completely clear. This may be due to air pollutants easily irritate the respiratory mucosa and make it prone to allergic sensitization. Air pollutants have negative impact to the nasal epithelium and ciliary beat, which are responsible to the clearance of allergens. Furthermore, some pollutants can enhance the releasing of the mediators that induce inflammation such as histamine, prostaglandins and leukotriene C-4.

Apart from that, some pollutants also can stimulate synthesis of the IgE antibody directly. When allergen binds two IgE molecules together on the mast and basophil cells surface, primary chemical mediator; histamine, will be released and it will cause nasal allergy. Therefore, we can affirm that allergens can easily enter into our blood stream through our nasal mucosal membrane if we have chronic inflammation, not enough IgA antibody, impaired ciliary beat and also with air pollutants around us. IgA antibody is very important to our body because it prevents allergens from penetrating through our nasal mucosal layer. Monounsaturated oleic acids, which can be found in cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, hazelnut or filbert oil (or the whole nuts), green and ripe olives, and almonds can increase IgA antibody in our body. Besides oleic acids, vitamin A also can increase IgA antibody, which can be found in cod liver oil, pumpkin, cooked carrots, sweet potatoes/yams, squash and other yellow or orange vegetable.