Allergic Rhinitis: Overview, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnostic Tests & Procedure

Allergic rhinitis is the inflammation of the inside of the nose that occurs due to allergens like dust, mould, pollen, insects or even skin flakes. Allergic rhinitis, called hay fever, causes congestion, sneezing, sore throat and itchy nose. A study conducted among children showed that 11.3% of kids as young as 6 or 7 years show signs of allergic rhinitis, but there is no reason to fret, as, with just a few lifestyle changes and proper care, you can easily overcome it.

What Is an Allergy?

An allergy is the body’s immune reaction to something it deems as harmful. Allergies can be seasonal or perennial. There are three major types of allergies: allergic rhinitis, food allergy and eczema. Each kind has different symptoms but can easily be detected with simple allergic rhinitis or IgE test. 

What Is Allergic Rhinitis?

An allergen is usually a harmless substance but can cause the release of a natural chemical known as histamine in your body. It is believed that between 10% and 30% of the population worldwide may suffer from allergic rhinitis. This can cause significant morbidity, healthcare costs and, in most cases, loss of productivity. Although historically, allergic rhinitis was thought to be a disorder of the nose passage alone; it has recently been classified as a component of a systemic allergic response associated with other more severe conditions like atopic dermatitis and asthma.

Symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis

Here are some of the most common symptoms of allergic rhinitis:

• A runny nose
• Sneezing
• An itchy nose
• Itchy eyes
• A stuffy nose
• Coughing
• Watery eyes
• Frequent headaches
• A sore or scratchy throat
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Eczema-like symptoms, e.g., dry, itchy skin that blisters and weeps
• Excessive fatigue
• Hives

While you might feel one or more of these symptoms immediately, others may only see symptoms when exposed to the allergen in large quantities. Some signs, like recurrent headaches and fatigue, can also appear after long-term allergen exposure.

Anaphylaxis 

In some people, an allergy can trigger a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. The following are the signs of this reaction:

• Constriction and tightening of the airways
• Shock and severe drop in blood pressure
• Dizziness, lightheadedness or loss of consciousness
• Rapid pulse
• Swelling in the throat or difficulty breathing caused by the feeling of a lump in the throat

If you observe any of these symptoms, it is best to avail of emergency treatment, as when left untreated, anaphylaxis can cause coma or, in severe cases, even death.

Diagnosis of Allergic Rhinitis

Minor allergies might only require visiting your physician for a general examination. Your doctor may then suggest one of two allergy tests. 

Though serum IgE test is the preferred choice for diagnosing allergic rhinitis, a skin prick is sometimes prescribed. Note that a skin prick procedure could be uncomfortable and tiring to many, especially because it takes time, restricts movement, and is complicated. 

The second method of testing for allergic rhinitis is a blood test, a serum IgE test. This test will measure the amount of immunoglobulin E antibodies produced when a particular allergen is introduced into the blood.

Like allergic rhinitis, serum IgE tests can easily detect food allergies. In most cases, a serum IgE test is also prescribed to discover which contact allergen is the root cause of eczema.

Antihistamines, decongestants, eye or nasal sprays, and immunotherapy are some popular treatment options doctors suggest for allergic rhinitis.

IgE Allergy Blood Test

Doctors can now take a small sample of an individual’s blood and determine what they are allergic to. This is called an allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) test. In most cases, this test is done to detect allergies to pets, pollen, foods and other common irritants.

Procedure

An allergy blood test takes just a few minutes when the healthcare provider takes your blood sample.

• The phlebotomist will take blood from a vein in your arm with the help of a thin needle. 
• The blood is filled in a collection tube before removing the needle. 
• A small bandage will then be placed over the needle’s entry point.

Once the blood sample is sent to the laboratory, it undergoes testing for common allergens. A method called ImmunoCAP IgE assay is used to complete the test. 

Advantages of ImmunoCAP Technology 

The significant benefit of ImmunoCAP is obtaining a quantified allergen-specific IgE level without any interference from other allergen-specific antibodies. Another advantage is that the comprehensive IgE pattern is obtained with smaller amounts of blood samples.

Interpretation

Every individual will have a little bit of IgE in their blood. However, an elevated level will indicate an allergy. As the brand of allergy blood test differs from laboratory to laboratory, each of them will send a copy of the relevant scoring system to refer to. 

Knowledge is power, and by knowing what allergic rhinitis is, the signs and symptoms to look out for and the diagnosis of this condition, you can find a permanent solution to your perpetual cough or other similar symptoms. Metropolis Labs uses the highly advanced ImmunoCAP™ machine for their immunoglobulin E test, which gives fast and accurate results. Speak to your nearest centre today to learn more about this test and how it can help you.