• Symptoms associated with this condition include pruritus of the nose or palate, rhinorrhea, sneezing, postnasal drip, nasal congestion, anosmia, headache, tearing, eye swelling, red eyes, earache, fatigue, drowsiness and a general feeling of malaise.
• At presentation, history taking should also involve questions to determine trigger factors, familial history, and comorbid conditions.
• Physical examination will reveal allergic shiners and nasal crease. The nasal turbinates may be enlarged and there may be erythema of the mucosa. The ears, eyes and neck as well as skin and lungs should be examined.

• Fatigue

  These symptoms can lead to poor sleep, which can result in significant daytime sleepiness and fatigue. Allergic rhinitis (allergies) may occur year-round or seasonally. [sleepfoundation.org]

  It may lead to fatigue, drowsiness, and malaise thus causing impairment of the quality of life. [icd9data.com]

  Allergic rhinitis may result in sleep disturbance, fatigue, depression of mood-cognitive function and quality of life impairment. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Other symptoms are headache, earache, red eyes, itchy eyes, drowsiness, fatigue and a general feeling of unwell. Diagnosis: This is done with the help of certain tests to check what causes the allergic reaction. [symptoma.com]

• Sneezing

  BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is a nasal mucosa inflammatory disorder that is induced by exposure to an allergen which results in four major symptoms, including anterior or posterior rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal itching and nasal congestion. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, and itching. It may lead to fatigue, drowsiness, and malaise thus causing impairment of the quality of life. [icd9data.com]

  In sinusitis, the nasal discharge is thick and yellow and there is no sneezing; in allergic rhinitis, it is profuse, white and watery and there is sneezing. [maciociaonline.blogspot.com]

• Nasal Congestion

  BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is a nasal mucosa inflammatory disorder that is induced by exposure to an allergen which results in four major symptoms, including anterior or posterior rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal itching and nasal congestion. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, and itching. It may lead to fatigue, drowsiness, and malaise thus causing impairment of the quality of life. [icd9data.com]

• Rhinorrhea

  Rather, the term refers to the presence of one or more of the following 10 : • Nasal congestion. • Pruritus. • Sneezing. • Anterior or posterior rhinorrhea. [web.archive.org]

  A high index of suspicion for this condition should be maintained in all patients who present with profuse and often unilateral rhinorrhea. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, and itching. It may lead to fatigue, drowsiness, and malaise thus causing impairment of the quality of life. [icd9data.com]

• Postnasal Drip

  This can trigger a type of allergy called hay fever.symptoms can include sneezing, often with a runny or clogged nose coughing and postnasal drip itching eyes, nose and throat dark circles under the eyes taking medicines, using nasal sprays and rinsing [icd9data.com]

  Symptom: This will present with symptoms like, itchy nose, runny nose, postnasal drip, and nasal congestion. Other symptoms are headache, earache, red eyes, itchy eyes, drowsiness, fatigue and a general feeling of unwell. [symptoma.com]

  Sinusitis: What You Need to Know The most common symptoms associated with sinusitis are nasal congestion, nasal discharge, postnasal drip, facial pressure or pain, decreased sense of smell, cough and fever. [hopkinsmedicine.org]

  Hay Fever Symptoms The usual symptoms of hay fever include the following: Sneezing Runny nose (clear, thin discharge) Congested ("stuffy") nose Postnasal drip Sensation of plugged ear(s) Watery, bloodshot eyes Itching of nose, soft palate, ear canal, [emedicinehealth.com]

• Common Cold

  An inflammation of the mucous membrane lining of the nose, usually associated with a nasal discharge; it may be caused by a viral infection, as in the common cold; or by allergic reaction, as in hay fever; also called coryza. [curlie.org]

  Blocked sinuses can be caused by the common cold, hay fever or nasal polyps (small lumps inside the nose). [who.int]

  Rhinovirus, the cause of the common cold, causes runny noses and triggers asthma attacks in the fall and spring. [web.archive.org]

  Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between allergies and the common cold. There are more than a hundred strains of cold viruses. [aafa.org]

  Some cases are the result of: an infection, such as the common cold oversensitive blood vessels in the nose overuse of nasal decongestants This type of rhinitis is known as non-allergic rhinitis. [nhs.uk]

• Mouth Breathing

  New York, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 1990 Evidence of allergies such as eczema Mouth breathing Skin testing: pretest probability of allergic rhinitis exceeds treatment threshold for most patients, so treatment without diagnostic [pedclerk.bsd.uchicago.edu]

  Look for signs suggestive of chronic nasal congestion - mouth breathing, cough, halitosis. Examine eyes for signs of conjunctivitis. Rule out other associated conditions. [patient.info]

  breathing; cobblestoning in the posterior pharynx secondary to chronic nasal congestion and postnasal drainage Testing No laboratory studies are needed in allergic rhinitis if the patient has a straightforward history. [emedicine.com]

• Halitosis

  Look for signs suggestive of chronic nasal congestion - mouth breathing, cough, halitosis. Examine eyes for signs of conjunctivitis. Rule out other associated conditions. [patient.info]

• Conjunctival Injection

  Signs include edematous, bluish-red nasal turbinates, and, in some cases of seasonal allergic rhinitis, conjunctival injection and eyelid edema. [msdmanuals.com]

• Excessive Tearing

  Complications of this allergic rhinitis include the following: Acute or chronic sinusitis Otitis media Sleep disturbance or apnea Dental problems (overbite): Caused by excessive breathing through the mouth Palatal abnormalities Eustachian tube dysfunction [emedicine.com]

• Ear Fullness

  Aural symptoms: ear pain, pressure or feeling of fullness. Endoscopic score (e.g. Lund‐Mackay/Lund‐Kennedy). [doi.org]

• Facial Pain

  Common symptoms include: sneezing watery eyes itchy throat a blocked, itchy, or runny nose Severe symptoms may include: sweats headaches loss of smell and taste facial pain caused by blocked sinuses itchiness spreading from the throat to the nose and [medicalnewstoday.com]

• Insomnia

  Except for cromolyn sodium, which is one of the more expensive treatments on the market, most of these drugs display adverse effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, insomnia, nervousness, and gastro-intestinal disorders. [acupuncture.com]

  Side-effects include sedation, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, nervousness, and gastro-intestinal disturbances. Failure to respond to antihistamines is due to the fact that inflammatory chemicals other than histamine are released in allergic states. [maciociaonline.blogspot.com]

  Side effects may include nervousness, racing heart, elevated blood pressure, and insomnia. Men with BPH may have difficulty urinating. [health.harvard.edu]

  […] nonprescription decongestants such as pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine in combination with antihistamines. 1 These agents are indicated for temporary relief of nasal and eustachian tube congestion as well as cough associated with postnasal drip. 1 Insomnia [pharmacytimes.com]

  Oral decongestants Pseudoephedrine C 2 years (usually not started until 4 years) Vasoconstriction; onset of action is 15 to 30 minutes Headache, elevated blood pressure and intraocular pressure, tremor, urinary retention, dizziness, tachycardia, and insomnia [aafp.org]

• An allergy skin test should be done to check for the immediate hypersensitivity reaction to specific allergens. A limited number of allergens should be used. The total serum IgE could be increased as well as the total blood eosinophil count.
• Imaging studies like plain radiograph will help to exclude structural abnormalities as well as detect comorbid conditions. CT scan of the sinuses can help in evaluation sinusitis, whether acute or chronic. MRI is useful for checking the soft tissues for features of malignancy.
• A nasal smear could also be done and may show eosinophilia [7].

The treatment of allergic rhinitis is three pronged.

• The first is environmental control and avoiding allergens which can be achieved by reducing outdoor exposure, regular washing of bed linens, and avoiding animals [8]. 
• Second is medications and they include antihistamines, leukotriene receptor antagonists, nasal corticosteroids, and decongestant.
• The third is immunotherapy which is considered in severe diseases or when there is a poor response to other management options [9].

The long term prognosis of allergic rhinitis, if it occurs alone, is good if it has developed early in childhood as symptoms tend to diminish as one gets older. When people with allergic rhinitis have other coexisting disorders, e.g. asthma, the morbidity is increased and mortality is seen in some cases. Although the condition is not considered severe, it causes enough discomfort to interfere with normal daily function.

The pollen responsible for causing haying fever varies from region to region and individual to individual. It is mostly caused by the pollens of wind pollinated plants and examples of these plants include pine, alder, birch, hazel, willow, poplar, plane, lime and olive. It could also result from exposure to grass pollens from grasses like timothy and ryegrass. Weeds that may induce an allergic reaction are plantain, ragweed and mugwort [2]. Allergic rhinitis can also be caused by spores of outdoor molds like apsergillus and penicillin and by house dust mites, furry household pets, cockroaches and rodents [3].

Some people develop a reaction when they are exposed to certain fragrances, especially ones containing Balsam of Peru.

There is a cumulative prevalence rate of 20% in the United States with as much as 40 million people suffering from this disease. In the international community, the prevalence varies among countries, largely due to their different geographies and availability and potency of allergens.

Morbidity and mortality from allergic rhinitis on its own is insignificant. The condition however occurs concurrently with other conditions like asthma and otitis media which may cause significant morbidity and even mortality.

Most cases develop by age 20 years but it may develop far earlier. In children, it affects more males than females but the ratio evens out in adulthood. It affects people of all races and has no predilection for a particular race [4].

• It primarily involves inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose. Other organs may be affected in certain individuals like the eye, ear and pharynx. Inflammation is triggered by an immunoglobulin E (Ig E) response to an extrinsic protein which brings about a complex interaction of inflammatory mediators.
• The tendency to develop this reactions to allergens has a genetic component. When susceptible individuals are are exposed to certain allergens, there is sensitization. This sensitization is characterized by production of specific IgE to act against these allergens. This IgE are present in the surface of mast cells which are seen in the mucosa of the nose. When the allergen, like a pollen, is inhaled, it binds to the IgE on the surface of the mast cells and causes immediate or delayed release of inflammatory mediators like histamine and kinins. The mast cells then synthesize other mediators like prostaglandins and leukotrienes. These mediators, following some complex interactions will cause the symptoms that are seen in allergic rhinitis [5].
• Stimulation of mucus glands will lead to increased secretions and increased vascular permeability will lead to plasma exudation. The will be congestion due to vasodilation, pruritus from stimulation of sensory nerves and these events can occur in minutes that’s why it is called immediate inflammatory reactions.
• These mediators then, through a complex interplay, will lead to recruitment of the delayed inflammatory mediators like neutrophils and lymphocytes to the nasal mucosa. This takes up to 8 hours to occur and may last for days and are called the late inflammatory reaction [6].

Prevention involves reduction of exposure to known allergens as much as possible and regular use of drugs [10].

Allergic rhinitis is popularly called "Hay fever". This is because it is triggered by some precise seasonal plants that are mostly prevalent during the haying season. It is however possible to suffer from this condition throughout the year, haying season or not [1].

• Definition: Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa caused by the response of a hyperactive immune system.
• Cause: It is mainly caused by pollens from plants, flowers, grasses and weed, but can also be caused by exposure to outdoor molds, as well as house dust mites, rodents, cockroaches and household pets like dogs and cats. Some of these allergens are used to make fragrances and allergic reactions to perfumes have been reported.
• Symptom: This will present with symptoms like, itchy nose, runny nose, postnasal drip, and nasal congestion. Other symptoms are headache, earache, red eyes, itchy eyes, drowsiness, fatigue and a general feeling of unwell.
• Diagnosis: This is done with the help of certain tests to check what causes the allergic reaction. Laboratory investigations are also done to check the levels of some inflammatory mediators as well as imaging like X-rays and CT scan to examine the surrounding structures and rule out complications.
• Treatment: This involves avoiding the allergen when it has been detected, using drugs to control the hyperactive immune system and immunotherapy.

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3. D'Alonzo GE Jr. Scope and impact of allergic rhinitis. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2002; 102:S2.
4. Settipane RA. Demographics and epidemiology of allergic and nonallergic rhinitis. Allergy Asthma Proc 2001; 22:185.
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7. Wallace DV, Dykewicz MS, Bernstein DI, et al. The diagnosis and management of rhinitis: an updated practice parameter. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2008; 122:S1.
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9. Weber RW. Immunotherapy with allergens. JAMA. Dec 10 1997;278(22):1881-7.
10. Hadley JA. Evaluation and management of allergic rhinitis. Med Clin North Am. Jan 1999;83(1):13-25.