Etiology, symptomatology and diagnosis of allergic rhinitis

At the root of allergic rhinitis (AR) symptoms are the mechanisms of acute and chronic rhinitis. The very first symptoms of AR could occur in infancy, whereas the majority of patients with AR (80%) show symptoms in their early twenties. Genetic predisposition is the most important factor influencing the development and course of AR. Symptomatology of the disease differs considerably in children aged 0-3 years in comparison with older children and adults. Typical symptoms of allergic rhinitis include rhinorrhoea, sneezing, nasal itching and nasal congestion. Children may experience different symptoms and allergic disease indications: blue circles under the eyes, allergic "salute", Dennie-Morgan folds, transverse crease on the nose, grimaces ("tics"), mouth breathing and orthodontic disorders. AR diagnosis is possible when the allergen is identified (interview, allergy testing), causation between exposure to the allergen and appearance of clinical symptoms is established (interview, observation), and participation of immunological mechanisms are confirmed (usually IgE-dependent) in the pathogenesis of the disease (allergy testing).