Quality of life with allergic rhinitis depends on adequate treatment

It is estimated that between 10 and 20% of the world's population suffers from allergic rhinitis, that is to say that between 700 and 1.4 billion people suffer from this disease. However, 400 million people have not been properly diagnosed or are not receiving the appropriate treatment because the symptoms are usually mistaken for a cold, warned Dr. Ma. Isabel Rojo, head of allergology at Juárez Hospital of Mexico and former President of the Mexican College of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, as part of World Allergy Day.

Allergic rhinitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa that occurs when a sensitive person is exposed to particles (proteins) derived from plants, animals, and so on. , known as allergens and producing symptoms. such as: sneezing, itching, runny nose and congestion; and sometimes the lack of smell. Patients with allergic rhinitis also often have asthma or are at increased risk of asthma, especially those who are not treated properly.

Similarly, nearly 80% of patients with allergic rhinitis report difficulty sleeping and, as a result, experience fatigue during the day. In addition, cognitive functioning is also affected.

Thus, this disease affects school performance, socialization and productivity at work. It is estimated that up to 2 million school days and 100 million workdays are lost each year. "Without a precise diagnosis and control, allergic rhinitis has a strong negative impact on the quality of life of these patients," said the expert in allergology.

In Mexico, as in other countries, allergic rhinitis is the leading cause of allergic consultation. Research shows that the prevalence rate in Mexico is between 13 and 20%, which means that about 16 million Mexicans live with this disease. The main allergens that cause allergic rhinitis are common and include pollen, dust mites, mold spores, and animal dander.

"If a patient with this type of allergy does not receive adequate treatment, is more likely to suffer constant discomfort, it is difficult to be totally isolated from these factors and, not to fully enjoy life, it ends up depriving oneself of pleasures like having a picnic, receiving a flower arrangement or having a pet, "said Dr. Rojo.

To avoid this, there are currently medications that help control symptoms up to 24 hours. Examples of these are second-generation antihistamines (such as loratadine) which, in comparison with other treatments, do not cause sleep. Clarityne, an over-the-counter medication that relieves runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, hives and itchy nose or throat at once, said Dr. Víctor Mundo, an expert. in over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

However, the lack of information on allergic rhinitis causes the symptoms to be mistaken for colds or flu and, as a result, people do not receive the appropriate treatment. Even more, among patients who treat their allergies with medication, only 56% use a proper medication, while 18% use cold products and 26% use allergy and flu medications.

Therefore, it is important that a doctor make an accurate diagnosis that may include a test to determine which allergen triggers discomfort, make a query that provides information about the symptoms (frequency, duration and intensity), as well as an exploration of nasal physics and, if deemed convenient, a nasal endoscopy.

With an adequate diagnosis, the doctor will indicate the most convenient treatment for each patient, which may include one or more pharmacological therapies, environmental hygiene measures, as well as saline nasal solutions that help cleanse the patient. nose, says Dr. Víctor World

"Having an allergy does not mean living permanently with symptoms or the fear of suffering them. Currently, we have different therapeutic alternatives that improve the quality of life of patients and allow them to enjoy their daily lives. Therefore, we invite those who constantly have sneezing; runny nose; nasal congestion; itchy coughing of the eyes, nose and throat, and dark circles to go with a doctor and put an end to allergy symptoms, "concluded Dr. Red.

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