Rhinitis : Allergic and Nonallergic

Rhinitis is among the most common chronic conditions in both children and adults for which medical care is sought. It is a heterogenous disorder resulting in inflammation of the nasal mucosa and characterized by symptoms of sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion and nasal itching. Chronic rhinitis may also contribute to fatigue, sleep disorders and learning difficulties. Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is caused by immunologic sensitization to one or more environmental allergens, which leads to production of allergen-specific IgE antibodies that bind high-affinity IgE receptors on the surface of mast cells and basophils. Nonallergic Rhinitis is a heterogeneous group of disorders involving symptoms such as sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion and post-nasal drainage without an obvious allergic trigger. Asthma and allergic rhinitis often coexist and may in fact represent a spectrum of the same disease. Indeed, the AR is a strong risk factor for the development of allergic asthma.