If you find yourself or your children constantly reaching for a tissue to wipe a runny rose, how can you tell whether an allergy or a cold is the cause? Our practice is affiliated with Penn Medicine and several of our allergists hold academic teaching appointments at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia.It’s almost time for allergy season, but cold season is still with us. One way that adults and children patients respond to a constantly itchy or runny nose is with the allergic salute, the upward swipe of the hand or index finger to rub the nose while sniffing. The allergic salute will be given habitually throughout the day, so it’s unlikely that parents will miss it. The allergic salute is a not-so-subtle sign of allergic rhinitis, one of most common conditions found in children. Rhinitis is a reaction in the nose that is triggered by the release of histamine in response to irritating airborne allergens. Histamine is a compound that causes the delicate linings of the nasal passages and sinuses to fill with fluid or mucus and become itchy and inflamed.Īllergic rhinitis is particularly common during pollen seasons. Pollen is usually worse in the spring and fall, but it is present year-round in regions where there is no pollen-destroying winter frost. In Seattle and the rest of the Pacific Northwest, trees are a major source of airborne pollen from late February through April, grass is a major source from mid-May through early July, and the rest of the year is relatively pollen-free until the following February. Rhinitis can also be caused by dust mites, mold spores, smoke, and pet dander. One way to tell the difference between an allergy and a cold is that allergic rhinitis may be accompanied by an itchy throat, eyes, or ears, although other symptoms such as sneezing and congestion are similar to those of a cold or other medical problems.
0 kommentar(er)
