Allergic rhinitis can also affect your quality of life. You may avoid seeing people, have problems sleeping, and feel tired or irritable. You may have trouble with school or work and be less productive.

hen you get allergy shots (immunotherapy), your allergist or doctor injects small doses of substances that you are allergic to (allergens) under your skin.

Most people who have allergic rhinitis have a parent, brother, or sister who has allergic rhinitis, asthma, or skin allergies. It is more likely a child will have an allergy if both parents have an allergy or have the same type of allergy.

Many experts in the United States classify allergic rhinitis according to the kind of allergens a person reacted to and when the reactions occurred.

What is allergic rhinitis?Allergic rhinitis, often called allergies or hay fever, occurs when your immune system overreacts to particles in the air that you breathe-you are allergic to them. Your immune system attacks the particles, causing symptoms such as sn

Health tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.Decision Points focus on key medical care decisions that are important to many health problems. Should I take allergy shots (immunotherapy) for allergic rhinitis and allergi

Learning about allergic rhinitis:What is allergic rhinitis?What causes allergic rhinitis?How can I prevent allergic rhinitis?What are the symptoms of allergic rhinitis?Why do people develop allergies?

Allergic rhinitis, often called hay fever, occurs when your immune system overreacts to particles in the air that you breathe-you are allergic to them. Your immune system attacks the particles in your body, causing symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis may develop within minutes after you breathe in an allergen, or they may not occur for another 4 to 8 hours. Symptoms often last longer than 10 days.

Allergic rhinitis, often called hay fever, occurs when your immune system overreacts to particles in the air that you breathe-you are allergic to them. Your immune system attacks the particles, causing symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose.

You may be more likely to have allergic rhinitis and other allergies if:You have a family history of allergies, especially allergic rhinitis. It is more likely a child will have an allergy if both parents have an allergy or have the same type of allergy.2You a

Call your doctor if you have been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis and:You have pain in the sinus area and other symptoms of sinus infection (fever, or a creamy, yellow or green discharge from the nose).Your symptoms get worse and you dont know why.

Your doctor can usually diagnose allergic rhinitis by asking you questions about your symptoms, your activities, and your home life, and examining you. You may need further testing if:You and your doctor need to find out exactly what things you are allergic to

Treatment for allergic rhinitis consists of avoiding the specific allergens that cause your symptoms, using medicines, and, in severe cases, getting allergy shots (immunotherapy).

Experts do not know how to prevent allergic rhinitis. Being exposed to many allergens, secondhand smoke, and air pollution can irritate the nose and throat and may contribute to developing an allergy.

Allergic rhinitis is a long - term problem. It takes time and effort to control allergies through home treatment.Avoid allergensBy avoiding or reducing your contact with allergens, you may be able to reduce your allergy symptoms and manage them without medicin

Treatment for allergic rhinitis usually starts with over - the - counter medicines. These include antihistamines, decongestants, and eyedrops.If over - the - counter medicines dont work or cause bothersome side effects, such as drowsiness or decreased coordina

Although surgery does not cure allergic rhinitis, you may need it to fix a physical defect of the nose or sinuses. Problems such as these can make allergic rhinitis more difficult to treat. You and your doctor should not consider surgery unless other treatment

If medicines cannot control your allergic rhinitis, you may think about having allergy shots (immunotherapy). Allergy shots are small doses of allergens that your doctor injects under your skin. This helps your body get used to the allergen, which can result i

OrganizationsAmerican Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology555 East Wells StreetSuite 1100Milwaukee, WI 53202 - 3823Phone: (414) 272 - 60711 - 800 - 822 - 2762E - mail: info@aaaai.org (For general questions only. The AAAAI cannot answer individual questio