The diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in adults is a serious health problem that affects both health and social life of individuals and impairs their quality of life. Allergic rhinitis is not only in the form of runny nose, itching, congestion and sneezing, but unfortunately it brings other health problems in the future. Adults with symptoms of allergic rhinitis need allergy testing to be diagnosed with allergic rhinitis. We tried to answer for you what should be done for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and how to do the tests.
Why is the Diagnosis of Allergic Rhinitis Important?
Runny nose, congestion, itching and sneezing back and forth may not always be allergic rhinitis. When you go to the allergists, you will be diagnosed with whether your complaints are allergic or related to other diseases. Once diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, your treatment will change and other diseases such as advanced asthma can be prevented. Therefore, it is important to diagnose allergic rhinitis.
What is the Story and Progression of Allergic Rhinitis?
For the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in adult patients, a detailed history is first taken. After the complaints of runny nose, congestion, itching and frequent sneezing start in adult patients, nasal congestion usually becomes more pronounced in the advanced period and mouth breathing begins. With the patient’s mouth breathing, complaints such as sinusitis, pharyngitis and ear inflammation, a feeling of fullness in the ear are added in the future. Cough complaints begin with a nasal discharge that does not go away over time. If allergic rhinitis is not treated, asthma begins to occur with complaints of shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing. The story, which usually starts with nasal complaints, ends with asthma in the future. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose allergic rhinitis at an early stage.
What to Look for in the Examination for the Diagnosis of Allergic Rhinitis?
For the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in adults, a general examination of the patient is carried out after a careful history is taken; It should also be examined for other accompanying diseases. As asthma may be associated with allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory tract should be checked because respiratory system examination may include ear discharge, sinusitis and pharyngitis. Careful nasal examination should be done. It should also be examined in terms of eczema, which may be associated with allergic rhinitis.
What Tests Are Performed in the Diagnosis of Allergic Rhinitis?
Some tests are done to diagnose allergic rhinitis in adults. The most important of these tests are allergy skin tests. Allergy tests can be done at any age, but it can be done in everyone after the age of 2-3 for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. For allergy testing, skin prick tests are mostly preferred, but sometimes allergy tests can be done from blood in patients who cannot be tested. Skin tests give more accurate results. Apart from the allergy test, sometimes snot analysis, blood test and pulmonary function tests may be required in suspected allergic asthma.
Diagnosing Allergic Rhinitis Requires Experience
Adults with allergic rhinitis are not diagnosed with just one test. Diagnosis is a condition that should be evaluated as a whole. Allergic rhinitis symptoms should be evaluated together with the history and allergy tests and other tests and a definitive diagnosis should be made. If there is incompatibility in the skin tests performed with the patient’s complaints, it is necessary to benefit from other tests and examinations. The allergens used in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and the positive response in skin tests against these allergens are very important for the long-term treatment of the patient. Experience and education are very important in making this diagnosis and planning the treatment.
As a result;
- For the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in adults, a careful history should be followed by examination and tests, especially allergy tests.
- After the tests for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, the treatment must be done by experienced allergy specialists.