What are the signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis?
You may sneeze a lot and have an itchy, runny, or stuffy nose. Your eyes may also be itchy, red, swollen, burning, or watery. Other signs are an itchy throat or coughing. You may also have plugged ears or decreased taste or smell. Symptoms that last a long time can be mistaken for a cold that does not go away. Some people may not sleep well or feel unusually tired during the day. Symptoms can be severe enough to cause learning problems in school age children. How is allergic rhinitis diagnosed? Your caregiver will ask you questions about your health and the symptoms that you have. He may do skin or blood tests to learn more about possible allergies that you may have. How is allergic rhinitis treated? • Avoid allergens: Avoid things that make your symptoms worse. Some things you can do to avoid possible allergens are: • Have someone else do the yard work and mow the lawn. • Change your clothes after you have been outside. • Do not let indoor pets sleep in the bedroom or sit on furniture
