1. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis
Typical symptoms of allergic rhinitis include:
- Itchy nose, sneezing: This is the most common and very uncomfortable symptom. Itchy nose, sneezing when the weather changes suddenly, accompanied by muscle spasms or headaches when sneezing; itchy skin in the neck, eyes, throat or outer ear canal.
- Runny nose, stuffy nose: When suffering from allergic rhinitis, the nasal mucosa is swollen and watery, leading to nasal congestion and difficulty breathing. Nasal discharge is initially clear and thin, then gradually thickens. In case of secondary infection, the nasal discharge will become cloudy and turn green or yellow. Difficulty breathing causes the patient to breathe through the mouth, leading to dry mouth and throat. Nasal congestion causes nasal discharge to flow back. This process will lead to a cough reflex, even coughing a lot...
- Fatigue: Along with the above symptoms, patients often have body aches and pains, and feel lethargic.
Sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose... are unpleasant symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
2. Drugs for treating allergic rhinitis and notes when using
There is currently no specific treatment for allergic rhinitis, but medications are mainly used to relieve symptoms. Commonly used medications include:
- Nasal hygiene medicine: Before using other medicines, the first measure is to clean the nose to help clear it and reduce dryness and itching. In which, 0.9% NaCl saline solution is a product that is often recommended for use. 0.9% NaCl is prepared in the form of nasal drops and sprays. The medicine has the effect of thinning nasal discharge, helping nasal discharge flow out more easily and soothing the nasal mucosa.
0.9% NaCl is highly safe, has few side effects, and can be used for pregnant women, infants, the elderly... For children, when cleaning their nose, parents need to be careful to avoid strong impact that can damage the child's nasal mucosa.
- Antihistamines: Histamine is a chemical produced by the body that leads to allergic reactions. When you have allergic rhinitis, histamine is released and stimulates symptoms such as runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, itchy nose...
In the treatment of allergic rhinitis, antihistamines at H1 receptors (H1 antihistamines), generation 1 are often prescribed such as promethazine, chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine with high anti-allergic effect. However, these drugs have the disadvantage of causing dry eyes, drowsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation...
Second-generation antihistamines that can overcome the above side effects include loratadine, astemizole, fexofenadine, cetirizine... Therefore, today second-generation antihistamines are more widely used than first-generation drugs.
However, it depends on the case to use which type is effective. Moreover, antihistamines will be more beneficial when used at the beginning of the allergy. If the allergy has been prolonged, antihistamines will not be very effective.
- Decongestants: Nasal congestion is the most uncomfortable symptom of allergic rhinitis. Therefore, decongestants are most commonly used by patients. Decongestants are prepared in the form of nasal drops, sprays or oral forms.
Some commonly used nasal drops/sprays such as: Ephedrine, naphazoline, oxymetazoline... have the effect of constricting blood vessels in the nasal mucosa, helping to reduce swelling, thereby helping to clear and relieve nasal congestion.
Because nasal decongestants are fast-acting and easy to breathe right after instillation/spray, patients tend to overuse them. However, if nasal decongestant sprays/drops are used for more than 7 days or are overused frequently, they will have adverse effects such as drug resistance, drug addiction, repeated relapses, and difficulty in completely treating the disease due to fibrosis of the nasal mucosa.
Oral medications containing phenylpropanolamine work by constricting blood vessels, reducing swelling of mucous membranes, and helping to drain fluid and relieve nasal congestion quickly. The medication should only be used after consulting a doctor. Common side effects include nervousness, tremors, urinary retention, and palpitations.
More severe reactions may include difficulty breathing, throat tightness, swelling of the lips, tongue/face, rash, convulsions, hallucinations; irregular heartbeat, dizziness, headache, anxiety; restlessness, nausea, vomiting, sweating... When experiencing one of these side effects, notify your doctor for timely treatment.
Use medication as directed by your doctor for best treatment results.
- Corticoids: Have anti-inflammatory effects, inhibit the release of cytokines, thereby helping to reduce the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Depending on the condition, corticosteroids can be used in spray or oral form.
+ Corticoid spray: Sprays containing corticosteroids help quickly reduce inflammation of the nasal mucosa and improve the disease through anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Corticoid sprays have fewer side effects than oral medications. The drug is recommended for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in children 2 years of age and older (depending on the type of drug).
However, patients should not abuse drugs but should use them according to the doctor's instructions.
+ Oral corticosteroids: Often used less in the treatment of allergic rhinitis because they contain many dangerous side effects. Oral corticosteroids, if used in high doses, can cause osteoporosis, stomach ulcers, increased blood sugar levels, adrenal insufficiency...
Doctors will weigh the risks and benefits before prescribing oral corticosteroids for allergic rhinitis in patients with severe rhinitis.
- Antibiotics: Only used when allergic rhinitis is accompanied by bacterial superinfection. Recommended antibiotics include cephalosporins, penicillins, etc. During the course of taking the medication, patients must strictly follow the treatment regimen to avoid the risk of antibiotic resistance and other complications.
Allergic rhinitis is not dangerous but it greatly affects the patient's quality of life. Using the right medication, combining diet and limiting exposure to risk factors will help patients prevent the disease from recurring.
Dr. Do Thi Dung
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