Allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis commonly manifests for the first time in childhood or adolescence with seasonal or perennial sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, and pruritus of the nose, eyes and throat. The nasal mucosa are pale blue and boggy, with a clear discharge. Patients should be instructed to avoid breathing tobacco smoke, to remove bedroom carpeting, to use foam pillows, to enclose mattresses and box springs in plastic covers, to keep house windows closed and to reduce indoor humidity by using air conditioning. If these avoidance procedures, together with oral and ocular antihistamines and/or decongestants, do not provide relief of symptoms, intranasal corticosteroids and cromolyn may be prescribed. Pharmacotherapy is more effective if it is used prophylactically. Second-generation antihistamines may reduce sedative and anticholinergic side effects. Intranasal decongestants should be used for only three to four days. Immunotherapy is appropriate for patients who remain unresponsive to therapy. Intranasal cromolyn should be the first drug considered in the treatment of pregnant women.