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- What is allergic rhinitis?
- Symptoms of allergic rhinitis
- Causes of allergic rhinitis
- Prevention of allergic rhinitis
- Risk factors for allergic rhinitis
- Complications of allergic rhinitis
- When to see a doctor about allergic rhinitis
- Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis
- Conventional treatment of allergic rhinitis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of allergic rhinitis
- Living with allergic rhinitis
- Caring for someone with allergic rhinitis
Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is diagnosed by the following:
- Medical history of symptoms - your doctor will take notes on the duration and severity of symptoms, when they started and will order other tests as necessary
- Physical examination - the doctor will perform a general physical examination of the throat, nose and ears to detect the severity of the condition
If necessary the following diagnostic tests can also be done (especially when symptoms are severe) to determine if there is any underlying problem with the respiratory system:
- CAT scan - the CAT scan test can provide a good view of the sinus and nasal passages and to determine if there are any nasal polyps which may be impairing breathing. If the sinuses appear to be adversely affected, swollen and inflamed, this can also be seen in this diagnostic tests
- X-ray - while an x-ray is not used to diagnose allergic rhinitis, it can show if there are any structural problems with the sinus and nasal passages that could be contributing to any problems or complications
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There are also a number of other tests that can be performed to give an even better idea on the cause of the allergic rhinitis:
- Allergy testing - an allergy test is usually a test which can give a clear understanding on which allergens are most likely to prompt symptoms in people with allergic rhinitis. An allergy tests is also known as a"skin prick test" and it involves pricking the forearm with a very small needle and allowing some of the allergen into the skin. This is done many times with various allergens that the allergy specialist uses (including dust and pet hair brought from home) to determine if an allergy exists to a particular substance. Usually, if an allergy to the substance occurs, it will cause the skin pricked to form a welt, rash or lump. The allergy specialist (or immunologist) will have taken note of each substance used to enable determination of the substances that cause the allergic response
- Cytotoxic allergy tests - this is a simple blood test which exposes the white blood cells to a sample of the suspected allergens (food or other substance) to determine if there is any reaction (the IgA antibodies in the white blood cells will react to the food or substance if it is an allergen that the body recognises). Sometimes this test can give false positives and may not be as reliable as an allergy test
- Food sensitivity test - children with allergic rhinitis often have food allergies or sensitivities and much of their subsequent symptoms may be due to this sensitivity. An elimination diet needs to be followed to work out if this food is causing any of the symptoms. The most common food sensitivities that can cause behavioural problems are: cow's milk, wheat (or gluten), oranges (and other citrus fruit), chocolate, peanuts, soy, eggs, corn, oats, apples, tomatoes. In order to test a food sensitivity, that food (and foods containing it) must be totally eliminated from the diet for two weeks (as must all foods with any artificial additives) and after that, the food can be re-introduced back into the diet to see if there are any reactions to it. This requires a lot of vigilance and strict monitoring and could be better accomplished with the help of a registered dietician or naturopath
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< 7: when to see a doctor 9: conventional treatment > Last reviewed: 21 September 2007 || Last updated: 9 January 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
