ABSTRACT
Allergic rhinitis, an inflammatory disorder, results from the interaction between aeroallergens and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) bound to mast cells and basophils in the mucosal tissues of the upper airways of sensitized individuals. Symptoms include sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, and pruritus of the nose, eyes, ears, and throat. These symptoms may occur with seasonal periodicity when they are triggered by tree, grass, or weed pollens or outdoor mold spores, but they may also be more continuous when caused by perennial allergens such as house dust mites, animal danders, occupational allergens, cockroach, and indoor mold spores. The pathogenesis of seasonal allergic rhinitis and perennial allergic rhinitis appears to be similar, and therapeutic principles for one can be applied to the other.
