Treatment Cave

The main clinical manifestations of allergic rhinitis (“hay fever”) are nasal congestion, a watery nasal discharge and sneezing.  In a few cases it affects the eyes and the conjunctiva may become red and itchy.  In 20% of cases there is also asthma in conjunction with the rhinitis.  Allergic rhinitis is due to an antigen-antibody reaction in the nasal mucosa.  If the antigens responsible are only pollen particles then it causes seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever).  If the antigens are dust, house-dust mites’ faecal matter, fungal spores and animal dander, it causes perennial allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis develops as a result of the interaction between the inhaled allergen and adjacent molecules of IgE antibodies.  These adhere to the surface of the mast cells which line the nasal epithelium with the first exposure to the offending allergen.  After the first exposure, the mast cells are “primed”, i.e. high levels of IgE antibodies adhere to th...