Chronic Rhinitis

[mayf]

Hi,

In the past 10 years I've developed chronic rhinitis which appears to be gradually getting worse and worse. In the past year or so my symptoms have developed further and I've started to suffer from itchy ears, throat, eyes and tongue as well as the sneezing, watering eyes, headaches and a blocked or runny nose that I had initially. It affects me every day of the year. I take anthistamines daily, a nasal spray and vacuum regularly but my symptoms are getting more and more debillitating. What more can I do to relieve my symptoms?

[Dr Helen Brough]

Dear Mayf,

Given the severity of your symptoms I would ask to be referred to an allergy specialist. It is obviously affecting your quality of life. It would be important to determine whether you are allergic to house dust mite. Allergens which are present all year round such as house dust mite are difficult to diagnose without testing as there is often no clear seasonality (although house dust mite allergy can be worse in the winter). House dust mite need high humidity and thus do not survive well at high altitude, thus often the rhinitis symptoms that you describe may resolve when on holiday in the mountains; this can be a good clue. If you were to find out you have house dust mite allergy then you could reduce exposure to house dust mite by buying special mattress, duvet and pillow covers. Also vacuuming with a HEPA filter vacuum and ventilating the room would be useful. However if you are not allergic to house dust mite then it will be quite a costly expense for little benefit. In addition if you were allergic to house dust mite you might be eligible for house dust mite desensitization. Another issue would be to determine whether you have sinusitis. This can manifest as persistent congestion and frontal headaches.

The other adult allergy specialists on this forum may be able to expand further.

Best wishes,

[mayf]

Hi Helen,

Thanks for your reply. It is getting increasingly unbearable now. I'll definitely ask to be referred to a specialist. I have had some problems in the past with sinusitis and often have problems in one side more than the other so I think this aggravates the situation further. Interesting about the altitude. I didn't know that and might have to experiment! Thanks again.