Although allergic rhinitis may seem like just a nose problem, it is actually related to the entire immune system. By understanding the causes of its disease and how to prevent it, so that the nose can be protected from the "enemy", the patient can finally be freed from the troubles it brings.
What medications are needed to help?
*Allergic rhinitis, in addition to managing the environment well and avoiding or reducing allergen stimulation, there are two regimens** of medication and immunity**. First-line drugs include glucocorticoids, antihistamines, antileukotrienes, etc.
Nasal glucocorticoids, represented by budesonide, mometasone furoate, betamethasone, etc., have significant anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-edema effects, and their strong anti-inflammatory properties directly affect the inflammatory development process of allergic rhinitis, reduce the hyperresponsiveness of the nasal mucosa, increase nasal airflow and improve olfactory function. When using, spray the nose 1 2 times a day at the recommended dose, for mild and moderate to severe intermittent patients, the course of treatment is not less than two weeks;It is the drug of choice for patients with moderate to severe persistence, and the course of treatment is more than 4 weeks.
Antihistamines are available by mouth and nasally. Oral antihistamines are recommended for the second generation, they have a fast onset and a long time of action, and can significantly relieve the symptoms of itching, sneezing, and runny nose, but the effect of improving nasal congestion and non-ventilation is not obvious. Nasal antihistamines are as effective as or better than second-generation oral antihistamines and have a faster onset of action, usually 15 to 30 minutes after administration. Generally, the medication is taken twice a day for no less than 2 weeks. Oral second-generation antihistamines include loratadine, cetirizine, ibastine, etc. Note: Children under 2 years old, pregnant women, and lactating women should use this type of drug with caution, and should not drive a motor vehicle or operate a machine during the medication. Nasal sprays are usually azelastine.
Leukotrienes are a general term for a class of inflammatory mediators, which can stimulate the dilation of blood vessels, cause congestion and swelling of the nasal mucosa, and stimulate mucus secretion, which is one of the main culprits of runny nose and nasal congestion. With leukotriene receptor antagonists such as montelukast, the relief of nasal congestion is significantly better than that of oral second-generation antihistamines, and can effectively relieve the symptoms of sneezing and runny nose. ** Take 10 mg orally daily at bedtime for 8-12 weeks;Children may be reduced to 4 5 mg per day as appropriate.
In addition to the above first-line drugs, there are also second-line drugs such as mast cell stabilizers, decongestants, and anticholinergics, which need to be used as appropriate under the guidance of a doctor.
Is there any other good way?
If you don't take medicine, is there anything else** or a good way to relieve allergic rhinitis?
Yes. It is believed that many patients have also been advised by doctors to rinse with normal saline or sea saline. Saline irrigation of the nasal cavity can dilute the nasal mucus, reduce the allergens in the nasal cavity, and reduce the edema of the nasal mucosa, which is a safe, convenient, economical and effective auxiliary method. Commonly used saline is normal saline, sea saline, hypertonic saline, etc., in addition to spraying, nasal lavage, nebulization.
In addition to saline flushing, immune** is also a good option. In layman's terms, it is to stimulate the patient's body with allergens in a gradual increase in dosage. After a long period of stimulation, the patient's immune system becomes "skinned", and it is used to no longer having an immune response to this allergen, and it is desensitized.
At present, the commonly used clinical immunization** includes subcutaneous injection (subcutaneous immunity**) and sublingual administration (sublingual immunity**) immunization**, the course of immunity is relatively long, because it is necessary to gradually increase the amount of stimulation of the body, and it is necessary to wait for the body to gradually tolerate the allergen, and the total course of treatment is generally about 3 years. It should be noted that immunization** has strict indications and contraindications, and it should be used in strict accordance with the norms and should not be abused.
The knowledge of this article refers to the "Guidelines for the Diagnosis and ** of Allergic Rhinitis in China (2022, Revised Edition)", which was revised by the Rhinology Group of the Editorial Committee of the Chinese Journal of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the Rhinology Group of the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Association.
*: Henan Provincial Health Central Plains Service Guarantee Center.
Contributed by: Rong ** Department.
Editor in charge: Yuan Xin.