Allergic Rhinitis

False: Allergic triggers such as dust mite, cockroach, feather, pet dander, and indoor molds can cause symptoms year round. Seasonal allergic triggers include tree, grass, and/or ragweed pollens which are airborne during different times of the year in different parts of the country. You can be allergic to the year-round triggers and not have any seasonal variation in symptoms.

True: Different people have different allergic triggers. One person may be allergic to only dogs, another allergic to only cats, and another allergic to only tree pollen, while still others may be allergic to multiple environmental triggers such as cat, dog, grass, ragweed, tree pollen, dust mites and molds.

Yes: Allergies can develop with repeated exposure to an allergic trigger such as dogs, even after a while. New allergies can develop at any time. The best way to determine whether your symptoms are allergy-related is to visit an allergist.

E: There are two proven methods to identify which triggers may be causing nasal allergies: allergy skin testing and allergy blood testing. Although tracking the time of year when the symptoms occur may be helpful, it is not as scientific.

The most common skin test involves "scratching" small amounts of common allergy triggers into your skin (usually forearm or back) and observing the skin reactions. If you're allergic to a certain trigger, the area of the skin where this substance was placed will typically get red, slightly swollen and itchy. The allergy blood test measures levels of special antibodies (IgE antibodies) to allergy triggers. A high level of IgE in your blood to a certain pollen would indicate that you are allergic to that pollen.

False: Over-the-counter antihistamines help some, but definitely not all people with allergies. Also, some over-the-counter antihistamines are more potent than others. Newer antihistamines such as cetirizine or loratadine usually do not cause as much drowsiness as older medications such as diphenhydramine. Also, some newer antihistamines can be given as a nasal spray and have been shown to be effective for the control of symptoms.

D: In most comparative studies, nasal corticosteroid sprays are more effective than the other agents to treat nasal allergies. (The active ingredients in these sprays are corticosteroids. This is different from the "steroids" connected with those misused in sports). Corticosteroids have been proven safe and effective for use in allergic rhinitis. Some preparations are approved by the FDA for use in children starting at the age of two years.

False: Although nasal corticosteroid sprays have been shown in some studies to work when used as needed, they work better when used continuously. In contrast antihistamines work well when used as needed and provide symptom relief for a limited time (eg: the ones given once a day usually provide relief for 24 hrs).

True: Allergy shots work like a vaccine. Your body responds to the injected amounts of a particular allergy trigger, or "allergen" (given in gradually increasing doses) little by little, developing a resistance and tolerance to it. Allergy shots can lead to decreased, minimal or no allergy symptoms when you are again exposed to the allergen(s) in the shot.

False: Oral antihistamines are effective in treating allergic eye symptoms but there are other options available as well. A number of anti-allergic eye drops are available for relief of allergic conjunctivitis. Speak to your physician about which formulation would be best for you.