Allergic Rhinitis in India: A Brief Overview
Author : Kantisree Goswami
Abstract :
In today’s society, keeping pace with urbanization, one severe problem which has been gradually augmented among people, especially the children, is allergic rhinitis, alternatively called ‘Hay fever’. It is a type of nasal inflammation which occurs when the immune system shows hypersensitivity to aerial allergens. It is the most frequent type of allergy worldwide. It is different from non-allergic rhinitis only in the fact that in the latter there is no involvement of immune system, and, therefore, no allergic manifestations. The commonest causative agents of allergic rhinitis are pollens, pet hairs, dust mites, molds etc. These act as potent allergens, with which the IgE antibodies interact, causing the release of inflammatory chemicals such as histamines from basophils and mast cells. Due to these chemicals, allergic manifestations appear. Some external factors can worsen the condition further, such as cigarette smoke, cold temperature, air pollution, hairspray, perfumes etc., all of which are almost inevitable parts of today’s life. The typical symptoms are running nose with itching sensation (Rhinorrhea), sore-throat, itchy and watery eyes, frequent headaches, excessive fatigue etc. Children are generally more affected than the adults. Onset of allergic rhinitis can either be seasonal or perennial. There are also cases of local allergic rhinitis, where allergic reactions occur only in the nasal region, without affecting the other systems. The systemic type, definitely which is more problematic, can be diagnosed by skin patch testing or blood tests for detection of IgE antibodies in serum. When someone is affected, some medications are available, such as antihistamines and corticosteroids, but these have their own side effects. Unfortunately, allergic rhinitis cannot be prevented completely. We can only achieve a partial prevention by proper management of our own surroundings; avoiding the potent allergens as far as practicable, thus assuring our children to live a better quality life.
Keywords :
Hay fever, allergen, IgE antibody, histamines, Rhinorrhea
