Treatment of allergic rhinitis in adults is extremely important and treatment must be done. Allergic rhinitis is not only in the form of runny nose, itching, congestion and sneezing, it can also bring other health problems in the future. Another important issue after allergic rhinitis is diagnosed is how to treat it. In this article, we will try to give information about the treatment.

What Should Be Done for the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis in Adults?

As with all allergic diseases, there are many factors in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, such as prevention therapy, drug therapy, allergy vaccination, complementary therapy and education.

Prevention Therapy

Since allergic diseases occur after contact with allergens to which we are sensitive, allergic rhinitis prevention treatment is carried out for the cause of the complaints. Which allergen we are sensitive to, we are protected against that allergen. For example, if there is a house dust mite allergy, which is the most common, protection measures are taken against house dust. Measures should be taken to reduce house dust in our lives. In order to reduce the areas where house dust will live, the sheets should be washed at 60 degrees and the carpets should be removed in the room where you sleep. Items that can hold dust in the house should be reduced. If there is an allergy to animal epithelium such as cats and dogs, contact with these animals should be reduced. After the allergens responsible for allergic rhinitis are detected by allergy tests, less allergic rhinitis complaints occur and less medication is used thanks to the preventive measures against them.

Adults with allergic rhinitis have very sensitive noses and therefore an overreaction to many chemicals. Especially detergents, deodorants and perfumes that we use abundantly in our daily life can cause sneezing, runny nose and itchy complaints. It should be said that adult patients with allergic rhinitis should use cleaning materials such as odorless detergents and be careful when using strong-smelling perfumes.

Drug Therapy

Allergic rhinitis in adults is a serious health problem that affects both health and social life of individuals and impairs their quality of life. Complaints such as runny nose, itchy nose, congestion and sneezing must be avoided. In the drug treatment, drugs that correct the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and drugs that improve it are used. Most of the drugs we will use for allergic rhinitis are to relieve complaints. When we stop the drugs we use for allergic rhinitis, the patient’s complaints often come back. Antihistamines, nasal steroids and leukotriene receptor antagonists are the main drug groups used as receptor antagonists.

Sometimes allergic rhinitis does not happen on its own. If there are other accompanying diseases such as asthma or eczema, treatment for these diseases should also be started.

Drug therapy is necessary in allergic rhinitis. It helps to control the complaints, but its use alone does not prevent you from developing asthma or the progression of the disease.

Are Allergy Vaccines Necessary in the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis?

Vaccine therapy (immunotherapy) is currently the best available treatment for allergic rhinitis. Vaccination against the allergen that causes allergic rhinitis in adult patients is the best treatment method that eliminates the symptoms of the disease, prevents the progression of the disease and the development of asthma.

Allergy vaccine treatment is a treatment approved by the World Health Organization. With the use of allergy vaccines, the need for drug use decreases, and the problem begins to disappear after encountering allergens that previously caused complaints. In addition, if asthma has not developed, it can also prevent asthma that may develop in the future. Currently, the only treatment that has the potential to stop the progression of allergic rhinitis to asthma is the allergen-specific allergy vaccine.

What are the Complementary Therapies in the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis?

In addition to being a serious health problem, allergic rhinitis also greatly affects social life. Therefore, patients may resort to other treatment methods many times. Complementary therapies are also occasionally used for the treatment. However, there is no scientific evidence showing that treatments such as acupuncture, bioresonance, homeopathy, herbal therapy are scientifically beneficial. It should also be taken into account that herbal products can sometimes do more harm than good. Sometimes, herbal teas consumed by patients with pollen allergy can cause serious problems. It may be helpful for those with pollen allergies to rinse their noses with water when exposed to pollen, wash their eyes, and take a shower when they get home.

Education is Important

The treatment of allergic rhinitis, as in other allergic diseases, consists of the combination of many parts. In the treatment of allergic rhinitis, each of these parts has a different place and should be evaluated as a whole.

It is very important to provide education on how to use the methods, when and how to use drugs in drug therapy, and how to use allergy vaccines. In the treatment of allergic rhinitis, missing one part causes the others to be missing. Special treatment schemes must be created for each patient, including all of them, under the control of allergy specialists.

As a result;

  • Allergic rhinitis treatment consists of many parts such as prevention, drug therapy, allergy vaccines, complementary therapy and education.
  • Allergy vaccines are the most effective treatment for allergic rhinitis.
  • Allergy vaccines are a treatment method that will prevent the development of asthma.