What are the symptoms of chronic allergic rhinitis?

Chronic rhinitis allergies trouble many people, seriously affecting their lives and work. Patients need to pay attention to timely detection of these symptoms. For example, if they have long-term sneezing, runny nose, or nasal itching and nasal congestion, they should be alert to whether it is caused by chronic allergic rhinitis.

1. The typical symptoms of allergic rhinitis are mainly continuous paroxysmal sneezing and a lot of watery clear nasal discharge, followed by nasal congestion and itching. Some patients experience a loss of sense of smell, but this is temporary.

(1) Sneezing: It is a reflex action that occurs in paroxysmal episodes, ranging from a few to dozens of sneeze per time. It often occurs in the morning, at night, or after contact with allergens.

(2) Clear nasal discharge: A large amount of clear watery nasal discharge is a characteristic manifestation of hypersecretion of the nose.

(3) Nasal itching: It is a special sensation that occurs locally when the sensory nerve endings of the nasal mucosa are stimulated. Seasonal rhinitis may be accompanied by itchy eyes, ears, and throat.

(4) Nasal congestion: varying degrees of severity, intermittent or continuous, unilateral, bilateral, or alternating.

(5) Decreased sense of smell: Due to significant edema of the nasal mucosa, some patients also experience decreased sense of smell, which is usually temporary but can also be persistent.

(6) Headache: People with allergic sinusitis may experience headache.

2. Nasal endoscopy: The nasal mucosa may be pale, grayish white or light blue, the bilateral inferior turbinates may be edematous, and clear or sticky mucus may be seen in the common nasal passage and the nasal floor. If infection occurs, the mucosa will be congested, the bilateral inferior nasal conchae will be dark red, and the secretions will be mucopurulent or purulent. Patients with a long medical history may develop middle turbinate polypoid changes, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, or middle nasal meatus polyps.