What are the effective ways to manage allergic rhinitis?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been suffering from allergies for over five years. I experience chronic sneezing every morning, and I often have a runny nose throughout the day, which leads to headaches. This condition is affecting my ability to work. I would appreciate your help.

Please advise.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Based on your symptoms of nasal allergy, frequent runny nose, and sneezing, it is evident that you are experiencing allergic rhinitis. The next step in managing this condition is to identify the trigger factors for your frequent sneezing attacks. Common triggers include dust, pollen, mites, fumes, or strong chemical fragrances in your environment. These triggers are responsible for your allergic symptoms. If you can identify the specific trigger, you should make an effort to minimize your exposure to it as much as possible. This approach can significantly reduce the frequency of your symptoms in most cases.

Allergic rhinitis is a chronic condition, so while we can manage the symptoms, a permanent cure is not currently available. There is no cure for allergies in general. If you are unable to identify the trigger on your own, you should undergo a skin allergy test or a blood allergy test to check for environmental allergens, as the cause is often related to external factors.

If the environmental panel does not reveal the cause, we can explore other allergy panels to test for food items, medications, or other potential triggers. After completing the allergy test, you will have a clearer understanding of what is causing the frequent allergic attacks.

For treatment, the primary focus should be on avoiding the allergen. Even with avoidance, or if you cannot eliminate the trigger, medications will only help manage the symptoms and will not cure the condition. You may try taking Montelukast sodium 10 mg once at night for 3 months and then as needed.

Additionally, you can use Mometasone nasal spray, one puff in each nostril every morning after your bath. This will help alleviate your runny nose and reduce sneezing. If you do not experience relief with these treatments, you should consult your doctor to rule out underlying asthma or to adjust your treatment plan.

I hope this helps.

Thanks for using icliniq, and have a nice day.