Rhinitis Treatment
Rhinitis is a very common condition that causes nasal congestion, runny nose and itching. It can occur in one or both nostrils, and it can be mild or severe, lasting for weeks to months. It can cause significant impairment in sleep and daily functioning, and it may also exacerbate other respiratory conditions such as asthma [1].비염치료
The majority of patients with nasal symptoms have nonallergic rhinitis (NAR). It affects more than 40% of the population. Nonallergic rhinitis treatment includes the use of medications to decrease the inflammation and congestion, and the avoidance of aggravating factors. The most commonly used medications are intranasal corticosteroids, decongestants and antihistamines. Intranasal steroid treatment has been proven to be the most effective for NAR, and should be considered as first-line therapy in patients with persistent symptoms that interfere with quality of life. Alternatively, intranasal azelastine (Azelastine) and/or ipratropium bromide should be considered as adjunctive therapy, as they have been shown to reduce congestion in NAR.
Allergic rhinitis is a type of nose irritation that results from a person’s immune system reacting to things like pollen, dust mites, pet dander and mold. It usually occurs at certain times of the year and lasts as long as the allergen is present in the air (usually 2-3 weeks per allergen). Allergies can be mistaken for a cold, however the common cold is caused by more than 100 different strains of viruses and typically has fewer symptoms than allergies.
Allergies are treated with a combination of allergy avoidance, pharmacotherapy and immunotherapy. Allergy skin tests are used to determine what you are allergic to and help guide your individualized allergy treatment plan. These simple tests involve placing small samples of the potential allergens on your skin and scratching or pricking the area. If you are allergic to the allergen, your skin will develop raised hive-like welts within about 15-30 minutes of exposure. Blood tests, such as the radioallergosorbent test (RAST), can also be done to identify your allergens.
The Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines recommend a stepwise treatment approach based on symptom severity and duration. Symptoms are classified as mild intermittent when they do not interfere with sleep or normal activities and as moderate/severe persistent when they do. Intranasal corticosteroids are recommended as the first-line treatment for moderate/severe symptoms because they provide rapid and sustained improvement in nasal function. Alternatively, a short course of oral or intranasal antihistamines, intranasal cromoglycate, leukotriene receptor antagonists or the anti-IgE antibody omalizumab can also be beneficial in treating AR. In addition to a pharmacologic approach, allergen-specific immunotherapy is now an established treatment option for persistent AR and is associated with improved clinical outcomes.[13]라경찬한의원