How are hay fever and allergic rhinitis diagnosed?
The history you give your health-care provider and an examination of your nose, ears, throat and lungs are usually enough to diagnose hay fever and allergic rhinitis. How are hay fever and allergic rhinitis treated? Your health-care provider might suggest antihistamine pills, nose sprays and/or eye drops to treat your symptoms. If you have asthma, you will also need inhalers. If your medicines do not keep your symptoms under control, your health-care provider will refer you to an allergist for tests to find out what is causing your symptoms. You might get a series of allergy shots to make you less sensitive to the things you are allergic to. What can I do to control my hay fever and allergic rhinitis? • DO NOT SMOKE. Avoid second-hand smoke. • Keep a record of your symptoms and what causes them. • Avoid things that have caused hay fever symptoms in the past. This includes pets and other animals, pollens from grasses, weeds, flowers and trees, molds and house dust. • Stay indoors when t
