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Introduction
Allergic disorders of the nose are very common in Southern Africa and affect almost 2 out of every 10 people.
This allergic problem is often regarded as a rather trivial condition, but the truth is that the consequences of this
illness may produce many untoward problems previously not adequately appreciated.
The basis of nasal allergic problems results from the interaction of common inhaled allergens
with specialised cells called mast cells in the nasal mucous membrane.
This reaction results
in the release of powerful chemical agents of which histamine is the best known.
These substances cause very severe swelling of the mucous membrane lining
the nasal passages, intense itching and sneezing and the production of copious amounts of watery mucus.
Allergic nasal disorders are divided into two main types; the seasonal form which is known as
seasonal allergic rhinitis or more commonly as hay-fever, and secondly the year-round form known as perennial allergic rhinitis.
Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (Hay-Fever)
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Most people, especially sufferers, are only too familiar with the symptoms of this allergic condition.
It can include severe bouts of sneezing, intense itching of the nose and of the palate and even the ear canals.
Profuse watery nasal mucus may stream from the nose, which often feels very blocked. Eyes may itch and tear and
a common complaint is sensitivity to light. Sufferers are often irritable and develop frequent headaches. This may
be due to the release of histamine into the blood-stream following the allergic reaction.
Allergens which cause symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis are usually the pollens of grass, trees and a few weed
species, all of which are wind-pollinated. It is only the small, light wind-borne pollens which cause the allergic reaction
in the nose. Occasionally fungal spores are implicated, but as these usually have a year-round distribution, seasonal flare-ups
are very unlikely. Certain tasks such as mowing the lawn during the pollen season will aggravate symptoms of hay-fever.
The diagnosis is readily apparent from the history, and skin tests are useful in identifying the allergens causing the symptoms.
Treatment for hay-fever is divided into 4 main groups. It is impossible to avoid the allergens which cause this form of rhinitis,
e.g. grass pollens, so medical treatment is unavoidable in most cases.
1. Anti-Histamines:
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Recent developments in this field have seen the introduction of a
new class of anti-histamines which no longer produce excessive drowsiness. In addition some of these new anti-histamines
need only be taken once a day, which is a big advantage. The older sedating anti-histamines, especially those combined
with oral decongestants such as pseudoephedrine, are no longer recommended.
2. Mast-Cell Stabilizers:
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The only effective preparation in this group is sodium cromoglycate (Rynacrom)
nasal spray. This is a very safe spray with no known adverse side-effects and works well in hay-fever sufferers.
3. Steroid Sprays:
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There are several topical steroid sprays available which are effective in severe cases
of hay-fever. The most familiar of these is probably Beconase, which is available as an aerosol spray or in aqueous form.
Recently two similar sprays are quite safe and will help many patients with troublesome symptoms.
4. Hyposensitisation:
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This is a process whereby steadily increasing amounts of a known allergen,
e.g. grass pollen extract, are injected beneath the skin of the upper arm. The injections are given at weekly intervals at first,
and later on can be given every 6 weeks for a period of 3 years. Eventually the patient becomes tolerant of the allergen and no
longer reacts adversely when exposed to that particular agent. Excellent results are obtained in more than 90% of grass-pollen
sensitive hay-fever sufferers by specific immunotherapy.
Perennial Allergic Rhinitis:
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| In this form of allergic rhinitis symptoms are present throughout the year. Excessive sneezing especially in the mornings and evenings, and a very blocked nose are the main complaints. Intense itching of the nasal passages is not a feature of this condition. |  Allergic “salute” |
Patients also complain of sleep disturbance and headaches and tend to be rather lethargic and unhappy. The majority of sufferers are sensitive to allergens present in the environment throughout the year, e.g. house-dust mites, fungal spores and animals. |
Patients with this condition often have a typical appearance known as the allergic facies. They are often pale with rather long,
mournful faces, have dark rings under their eyes (the allergic shiners) and have dry lips due to mouth breathing. Many people have
a clear line across the nose known as the allergic salute. Associated problems are very common and include abnormalities
of the teeth and sinuses, ear problems and post-nasal drip.
The diagnosis is readily established on the history of the complaint, and skin test or RAST tests. The latter is done on the
patients blood and requires a specialised laboratory to analyse results. In the majority of cases house-dust mites or cats or
dogs are identified as the causative allergen. Treatment follows essentially the same lines as for hay-fever, except that
environmental control is very useful, e.g. a careful mite control programme for the home.
1. The new non-sedating anti-histamines are often effective in relieving symptoms.
2. Steroid nasal sprays are very useful in this condition and help enormously in relieving blockage of the nose by reducing the swelling of the nasal mucous membrane.
3. Hyposensitisation is not as effective as for pollen allergy, but will still be useful in more than 70% of house-dust mite sensitive patients.
In summary, most patients with nasal allergies can be effectively treated today and no one need suffer unnecessarily.
Copyright: Allergy Society of South Africa.
Written by Prof. Eugene Weinberg
Endorsed by ALLSA.
This information sheet is obtainable from:
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ALLSA P.O. Box 88 Observatory, 7935 Cape Town, R.S.A. |
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