When Pollen Season Comes, That Itchy Feeling... 'Allergic Rhinitis' Often Mistaken for a Cold [Kok! Health]

Risk of Prolonged Symptoms and Complications
Combination of Avoidance, Medication, and Immunotherapy Needed

As the weather warms up and outdoor activities increase, more people are experiencing symptoms of rhinitis, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion. In particular, the spring season brings a higher concentration of airborne pollutants like pollen, fine dust, and yellow dust, along with significant temperature fluctuations, making the respiratory system more easily irritated. As a result, more people are wearing masks.

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Allergic rhinitis is a condition where the nasal mucosa reacts hypersensitively to specific allergens. The main symptoms include consecutive sneezing, clear runny nose, nasal congestion, and nasal itching. If two or more symptoms occur repeatedly, or if symptoms worsen when exposed to pollen or dust mites, allergic rhinitis may be suspected. It is also common for eye itching or increased tearing to accompany these symptoms.

The pattern of symptoms varies depending on the cause. If the cause is dust mites or animal fur, symptoms can persist throughout the year, regardless of the season. If pollen is the cause, symptoms tend to appear intensively during transitional seasons such as spring and autumn. Sudden changes in temperature can also act as a factor that worsens symptoms.

Diagnosis begins with a comprehensive assessment of the patient's symptoms and living environment. Factors such as age, occupation, residential environment, symptom patterns, triggering factors, and family history are all considered. If necessary, the cause can be identified through nasal endoscopy, sinus X-rays, or skin prick or blood tests to check for allergen-specific IgE.

Allergic rhinitis is often mistaken for a common cold, but there are clear differences. A cold is caused by a viral infection and is accompanied by fever, body aches, and headache, usually resolving within one to two weeks. In contrast, allergic rhinitis is characterized by clear runny nose and sneezing that persist for several weeks to months without fever.

If symptoms are left untreated, complications such as conjunctivitis, otitis media, sinusitis, and pharyngolaryngitis may develop. If the condition becomes chronic, there is also a risk of progressing to nasal polyps or loss of smell. It can also affect overall quality of life, leading to sleep disturbances and reduced concentration.

Treatment is divided into avoidance strategies, medication, immunotherapy, and surgical intervention. The fundamental approach is to avoid the causative allergen. However, as complete avoidance is often unrealistic, medication is frequently used in combination. Depending on the severity of symptoms, antihistamines, nasal sprays, or decongestants may be prescribed. Intranasal steroid sprays are known to be an effective treatment, with relatively low risk of side effects due to minimal systemic absorption. Recently, biologic agents that block specific inflammatory pathways have also been utilized for some patients.

If a fundamental solution is desired, immunotherapy can be considered. This method involves gradually administering small amounts of the causative allergen to induce immune tolerance, requiring long-term treatment for more than three years.

In daily life, reducing exposure to allergens is of utmost importance. On days with high pollen counts or severe yellow dust, it is helpful to limit outdoor activities, and to wear a mask when going out is unavoidable. Since pollen is most prevalent in the morning, evening hours are relatively better for outdoor activities.

Indoors, it is recommended to keep windows closed and use an air purifier. After returning home, washing clothes and showering are necessary to remove pollen and fine dust from the body. Maintaining adequate humidity helps prevent the nasal mucosa from drying out, and rinsing the nose with saline after going outside can also help relieve symptoms by removing irritants.

Heungwoo Park, Professor of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Seoul National University Hospital, explained, "Using information on levels of air pollutants, pollen, and weather changes can help prevent symptom exacerbation." Jaeseon Park, Professor of Otorhinolaryngology at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, emphasized, "If symptoms persist, it is important to visit a hospital and undergo allergy testing to accurately determine the cause."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.