Allergic Rhinitis

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis

Common symptoms of allergic rhinitis are similar to a cold and include:

sneezing
an itchy nose
a runny or blocked nose
itchy, red and watery eyes
a cough
the roof of your mouth being itchy

This usually happens within minutes of coming into contact with something you're allergic to.

Causes of allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is caused by an allergic reaction.

Common allergies include:

pollen from trees, grass and weeds (hay fever)
house dust mites
dander - flakes of dead skin found in the fur of animals such as dogs and cats
mould
wood dust, flour dust and latex

You're more likely to get an allergy if people in your family also have them or conditions such as eczema and asthma.

Allergic rhinitis is different from non-allergic rhinitis, which is caused by things like having a cold, very hot or cold temperatures and humidity.

How you can treat allergic rhinitis yourself

You can often treat allergic rhinitis without seeing a GP.

If you can, try to avoid the things that trigger your allergies.

A pharmacist can also advise you about medicines that can help, such as:

antihistamines
decongestant nasal sprays or drops to unblock your nose (decongestants should not be used by children under 6)
steroid nasal sprays
salt water nasal sprays or solutions to rinse out the inside of your nose

You can buy nasal decongestant sprays without a prescription, but they should not be used for longer than 5 days as this can make a blocked nose worse and make it harder for your symptoms to improve.

Check with the pharmacist or check the leaflet that comes with the medicine for how long you should use it for.

Find a pharmacy

If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.

See a GP if:

you have allergic rhinitis and your symptoms get worse
you also have asthma and it's getting worse
your symptoms are affecting your sleep and everyday life
you're not sure what's causing your symptoms
treatments from a pharmacist are not working

Treatments for allergic rhinitis from a GP

If pharmacy medicines do not help ease your allergic rhinitis symptoms, a GP may prescribe a different medicine, such as prescription steroid nasal sprays or antihistamines.

You may be referred to a specialist for further tests and treatment if it's not clear what's causing your symptoms or they're severe.

Preventing allergic rhinitis

If you have allergic rhinitis, it's not always possible to avoid the things you're allergic to. But there are steps you can take to try to help reduce your symptoms.

Do

wear wraparound sunglasses to protect your eyes from pollen
use synthetic bedding and covers, and wash bedding regularly at 60C and above
dust with a damp cloth and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter
wash pets regularly and groom them outside if possible
wash your pet's bedding regularly on a hot wash and clean any furniture they've been on
keep your home dry and well-ventilated, and deal with any damp and condensation

Don't

do not allow pets in bedrooms
do not go outside or dry clothes outside when the pollen count is high, if possible

Find out more

Allergy UK has more information on living with allergies

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