Nonallergic Rhinitis
Nonallergic rhinitis is at times almost indistinguishable from allergic rhinitis (AR), although typically nasal and palatal itch, sneezing, and conjunctival irritation are less prominent - Mark D Scarupa
image by: Chicago Nasal and Sinus Center
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Your Health: Got allergies? Maybe it's actually non-allergic rhinitis
People with non-allergic rhinitis have many of the same symptoms as people with nasal allergies — the runny noses, congestion and annoying post-nasal drip. Some sneeze, too. But "when we do allergy testing on them, we don't find anything," Shulan says.
These patients often have no personal or family history of allergy and are older than the usual new allergy patient, averaging about age 35, says Jonathan Bernstein, an allergy researcher at the University of Cincinnati. They are more often women than men, he says.
Resources
Adult Mystery: Sudden 'Allergy'
Severe reactions like these to foods, drugs, pollen and other substances can develop, seemingly out of the blue, at any age. The symptoms mimic allergy attacks, and the misery they cause can be just as severe.
Non-Allergic Rhinitis (aka Vasomotor Rhinitis)
...an extremely frustrating sino-nasal disorder...
Allergic vs Non-Allergic Rhinitis
Do you have a runny nose or nasal congestion that does not seem to have an identifiable trigger? Do allergy medications not seem to improve your symptoms? You may have a form of rhinitis, called non-allergic rhinitis, which can often mimic symptoms of allergies.
Nonallergic Rhinitis, With a Focus on Vasomotor Rhinitis Clinical Importance, Differential Diagnosis, and Effective Treatment Recommendations
Nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) is not a single disease with 1 underlying mechanism but is instead a collection of multiple distinct conditions that cause similar nasal symptoms. Nonallergic rhinitis is at times almost indistinguishable from allergic rhinitis (AR), although typically nasal and palatal itch, sneezing, and conjunctival irritation are less prominent.
Rhinitis
The symptoms associated with non-allergic rhinitis closely resemble those found in people who suffer from colds and allergies. They include a runny and/or stuffy nose, sneezing, and postnasal drip. An itchy nose, eyes, or throat – common with hay fever – are usually absent in non-allergic rhinitis. The exact cause of non-allergic rhinitis is often unknown, but there are a number of triggers that can bring about symptoms.
Vasomotor Rhinitis
However, unlike allergies (allergic rhinitis), vasomotor rhinitis doesn’t result from exposure to allergens, like pollen, mold, pet dander, etc. It’s not caused by viruses or bacteria either. Instead, you may experience symptoms because of weather changes, certain smells, eating, exercise, medications or other triggers that irritate your nose. Vasomotor is also called idiopathic rhinitis. It’s a type of nonallergic rhinitis.
What is Non-Allergic Rhinitis? (And Why It's Not the Same as Your Allergies)
Non-allergic rhinitis, also known as vasomotor rhinitis or nonallergic rhinitis, is essentially allergy symptoms without an apparent cause. Inversely, allergic rhinitis— also known as hay fever— occurs from a specific cause such as pollen or dust. Both occur when the tissue in your nasal passages becomes inflamed or irritated.
What Is Nonallergic Rhinitis?
While the symptoms of allergic and nonallergic rhinitis are similar, the causes are very different.
Your Health: Got allergies? Maybe it's actually non-allergic rhinitis
People with non-allergic rhinitis have many of the same symptoms as people with nasal allergies — the runny noses, congestion and annoying post-nasal drip. Some sneeze, too. But "when we do allergy testing on them, we don't find anything," Shulan says.
StatPearls
Nonallergic rhinitis can subdivide into numerous different subtypes with vasomotor rhinitis (VMR) being the most common type. Vasomotor rhinitis is a term often used to describe rhinitis symptoms associated with nonallergic, noninfectious triggers with no clear etiology after the conclusion of an exhaustive search for a diagnosis.
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