Allergic Rhinitis

This is a guest post by Dr. Abhishek Ramadhin, who is doing his rhinology fellowship training in the Sinai Hospital Division of Otolaryngology.

Also called seasonal allergies, allergic rhinitis is an especially common chronic nasal problem that can cause such symptoms as nasal congestion; persistent sneezing; itchy, red or swollen eyes; headaches; fatigue, coughing; and post-nasal drip. These symptoms can be triggered by inhalants like pollen (from trees, grass or weed), dust and molds. Animal dander and house dust mites are other possible causes.

My colleagues and I treat many patients for seasonal allergies. We can diagnose these allergies with a skin prick test. Some of the main treatments include intranasal steroid inhalers, anti-allergic pills and decongestants.

The definitive treatment available is allergen immunotherapy-or allergy shots. We administer this form of treatment by first creating vials of varying concentrations of the offending inhalant antigens. We then inject low concentrations of these substances, increasing concentrations gradually over time with the goal of decreasing the patient's symptoms and medication usage while boosting energy levels.

The Sinai Hospital Division of Otolaryngology, under the leadership of Dr. Alan Shikani, offers a full range of services for diagnosing and treatment of ENT disorders. If you are interested in making an appointment, please call 410-601-WELL or fill out our online appointment request form.