Allergic Rhinitis | Riley Children's Health

Often called hay fever, allergic rhinitis affects 20 to 30 percent of the population. There are two types of allergic rhinitis: perennial and seasonal.

Perennial allergic rhinitis occurs due to allergens that are present all year. These perennial allergens are usually found inside a home and include:

House dust mites
Molds
Animal dander
Cockroach droppings

Seasonal allergic rhinitis (sometimes referred to as seasonal allergies) occurs due to:

Tree pollen. This pollen appears from the early spring to the beginning of summer.
Grass pollen. This pollen usually appears in late May through early July.
Weed pollen. This pollen usually appears in July through the second frost in the fall or winter.

There is also an outdoor mold season that takes place in the typically damp month of April and again in August.

It usually takes two frosts to get rid of outdoor allergens. These time frames apply to Indiana and may vary depending on where you live.

Allergic rhinitis can cause symptoms in the nose, throat, ears and roof of the mouth. The same allergy triggers that affect the nose can also affect the eyes. This leads to itchy, red, watery eyes, known as allergic conjunctivitis. Allergies of the eyes and nose are called allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis may include:

Sneezing fits
Runny nose
Nasal congestion
Itchy nose
Nosebleeds
Red, watery and itchy eyes

Children with allergic rhinitis may also clear their throats often or breathe through their mouths. Allergic rhinitis can also cause the tongue or the roof of the mouth to feel itchy. In some cases, you may notice your child making a clicking sound as he or she tries to relieve this itching by pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth.

Many parents notice that their children are more tired than usual during allergy season. If your child has allergic rhinitis, it can affect the quality of his or her sleep.

Diagnosis of Allergic Rhinitis

To diagnose allergic rhinitis, pediatric allergists at Riley at IU Health ask you questions about your child’s health history and symptoms. The doctor will also do a physical exam. Allergy testing (skin tests) may be needed to learn which specific allergens are causing your child’s symptoms. If the allergy tests are all negative, irritants in the environment such as tobacco smoke or pollution may be playing a role.

Treatments

If your child is diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, his or her treatment plan may include:

Environmental control (avoidance). Like all allergic conditions, avoidance is the best treatment. That is why it is important, especially for indoor allergens, that environmental control be part of your child’s treatment plan.
Medicines. After avoidance, the next treatment approach is medicine. Antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays are the medicines doctors most often use to treat allergic rhinitis symptoms. Antihistamines can relieve symptoms like sneezing and itchy or runny nose.
Allergy shots. Allergy shots are another effective form of treatment for allergic rhinitis.
Oral immunotherapy. Oral immunotherapy is a daily tablet treatment that your child can dissolve under the tongue. It has recently emerged as a treatment option for grass pollen allergies.

Key Points to Remember

Often called hay fever, allergic rhinitis affects 20 to 30 percent of the population.
There are two types of allergic rhinitis: perennial and seasonal.
Symptoms of allergic rhinitis include sneezing fits, runny nose and nasal congestion.
Doctors diagnose allergic rhinitis through a physical exam and review of your child's medical history. The doctor may also perform allergy tests (skin tests).
Treatment for allergic rhinitis includes environmental control, antihistamines, nasal sprays, allergy shots and oral immunotherapy,

Support Services & Resources

Visit the trusted websites below to learn more about allergic rhinitis.

Riley at IU Health offers a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.

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American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Read more about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

The website of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology provides in-depth information about allergic rhinitis along with a symptom test.

Locations

In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.

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Departments Treating This Condition

Allergy & Asthma