Allergic Rhinitis
Allergia is a reaction to the substance that enters or touches the body, causing the body to harm itself. Nose is the most influenced organ from this type of allergic reactions. Allergia has a tendency of genetics and it can begin with every age. 2-3 minutes after the allergia enters the body a medicine which is called histamine will be released. In 15 minutes it will reach up to maximum level. Allergia can be seen all the time or in certain seasons.
What are the Factors for Allergia?
There are so many known or unknown factors that can cause allergy. For the most seen factors are the dust, pollens, mold fungus, some foods (milk, egg, strawberry, etc.), chemical materials and pets.
What kind of Complaints Can Occur?
The symptoms of allergia which is related to the ENT are runny nose, sneezing, nasal obstruction, itching, post-nasal drainage, having a sore in the throat, chronic cough and pressure in the middle ear. Sinuses, concha hypertrophy or polyp, asthma and skin reaction can be seen more in people who have allergies than people who do not have allergies.
What Are the Tests Used for Diagnosis?
After the examination when allergia is suspected, the most commonly used test are skin tests. However, negative results from these tests do not indicate that the patient is not allergic. There is a possibility of an allergic reaction in the skin tests that does not work or when an allergy enters the skin, it may be allergic when it enters the respiratory system. Skin tests can tell you how much allergia is to which substance. Besides these tests, amount of item, IgE, in the blood. Also, there are some blood tests that are more reliable than skin tests but difficult to apply and expensive. The most important allergia rhinitis diagnosis are what the patients explains (anamnesis) and examination findings. According to these findings, if the diagnosis of allergy is considered, the patient is considered as allergic. Skin tests and other blood tests are all about what an allergy is. Even if the results of these tests are negative, a patient still gets treated as allergia.
Treatment
There are 4 main categories in Allergia Rhinitis
1. Allergen protection
2. Drug treatment
3. Immunotherapy (vaccine treatment)
4. Rhinolight
1- Protection from Allergen
Avoidance of allergens is the main treatment method of allergic rhinitis. However, this is usually not possible. Factors such as the fact that the allergen cannot be determined exactly, that there is an allergy to more than one substance, and that it is not possible for the patient to stay away from this substance, even if the allergen is determined, complicates the treatment. However, there are still some precautions that the patient can take.
• Not being in dusty and smoky environments, wearing a mask if necessary
• Adjusting the temperature and humidity
• Being indoors as much as possible and keeping the doors and windows closed during the high pollen seasons.
• As much as possible, leather, vinyl and plastic items should be used instead of carpets, rugs and blankets.
• Plants and pets should not be kept in the house.
• Using specially prepared bedding and linens, if not available, washing all linens and linens regularly with hot water.
• Paying attention to the fact that the vacuum cleaner does not give out dust.
• Avoid furry toys
• In which environment and situations the patient feels that their complaints start or increase, they should take their own precautions accordingly.
2- Drug Treatment
The most commonly used substance as drug therapy is antihistamines. These drugs are aimed at reducing histamine, which plays a role in allergic reactions. Usually they are very useful. They are more beneficial when used before exposure to the allergen. They are especially effective on itching, discharge and sneezing. However, which antihistamine will be more beneficial to the patient is determined by trial and error. It should now be replaced with another antihistamine if its effect begins to wane. The most important side effects of these drugs are drowsiness, dry mouth, palpitations, difficulty urinating, and increased intraocular pressure. However, these side effects have decreased considerably in the last generation antihistamines.
3- Immunotherapy (Vaccination Treatment)
Vaccine therapy is a treatment method for the basis of the disease with proven effectiveness in the treatment of allergic diseases. It is applied to patients with allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma and bee venom allergy. The average duration of vaccine treatment is 3 to 5 years. In vaccine treatment, the substance detected in the allergy test can be administered in increasing doses as a subcutaneous injection or as a drop or tablet taken orally. The appropriate method is evaluated by the allergist. If the desired level of control cannot be achieved with the prevention methods and medical treatments of allergic diseases, or if the patients do not want to use long-term regular medical treatment, allergy vaccination (immunotherapy) treatment can be applied.
4- Rhinolight
Rhinolight is a treatment method with a high success rate compared to other methods, which is frequently applied for nasal and sinus allergy patients. Used for skin conditions in the past years, Rhinolight has been working on the concept of using U/V phototherapy (UV-B 5%, UV-A 25% and visible light 70%) to treat damage to the nose caused by repetitive allergic stress since 2001. Rhinolight is used as a standard treatment in nasal and sinus problems, but especially in allergic rhinitis triggered by pollen, house dust and animal hair. Rhinolight phototherapy is effective for any type of allergic rhinitis, regardless of the triggering allergen.
Rhinolight® directs a combination of UV-B (5%), UV-A (25%) and visible light (70%) into the nasal cavity. This is considered a safe range of UV light for medical treatment and causes neither heat nor pain on the treated surface. It does not harm healthy nasal tissue and therefore can be used safely as a long-term treatment in allergic conditions affecting the nose and sinuses.