Question about non-allergic rhinitis?

[kythe42]

Well I've been suffering from allergies for as long as I can remember. It's a year round thing, but it's not as bad in the winter as in other months of the year. Things that seem to set me off are dust, mold, pollen, smoke, strong smells, and some chemical fumes. I've had a hard time finding any medication that helps besides benedryl which usually makes me too sleepy to function properly so I only use it if I'm feeling really miserable. Anyway about a year ago I went to see an ENT because my allergies were leading to chronic sinus infections. They had me do allergy testing, both skin and blood, and I tested negative for everything. The doctor said that it was non-allergic rhinitis. Now I've read up on non-allergic rhinitis and agree that some of my symptoms are probably caused by non-allergic rhinitis, but some things just don't seem to fit. I've never read anything that linked seasonal symptoms to non-allergic rhinitis. So my question is, can things that would normally cause allergic-rhinitis like pollen, dust, and mold also cause non-allergic rhinitis?

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

There is a considerable overlap amongst the symptoms of sinusitis or rhinitis - allergic or non - allergic.

You should consult an allergy specialist for your symptoms, try to avoid substances that you have documented allergies to, and take some oral antihistamine medications like loratadine or cetrizine for your symptoms.

Steam inhalation and saline nasal drops would also help with your symptoms.

Your specialist would be able to decide whether steroid nasal sprays would help in your case.

Let us know if you have any other doubts and post us about what your doctor advises.

Regards.

[kythe42]

Well thanks for responding, but you really didn't answer my question. I wasn't looking for any information about treatment options. I simply wanted to know if things that would normally cause allergic rhinitis can also cause non-allergic rhinitis. In the research I've done it says that things pollen, dust, and mold are associated with allergic rhinitis, and things like smoke and perfume are associated with non-allergic rhinitis. Now all of those things seem to affect me, but since I tested negative for everything in all of the allergy tests as I said in my original post, the doctor I was seeing diagnosed me with only having non-allergic rhinitis.

If I go by what the research I've done says, it would seem that I have both allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. But since the allergy testing all came back negative, it would seem I only have the non-allergic rhinitis. So I ask again, is it possible for triggers associated with allergic rhinitis to also cause allergic rhinitis? If this is possible then I would be able to agree with my doctor's diagnosis. However if this isn't possible, then it would mean that the allergy testing isn't at all reliable.

[kythe42]

*sighs* I wish there was a way to edit my posts, I messed something up in my reply.

The sentence that reads, "So I ask again, is it possible for triggers associated with allergic rhinitis to also cause allergic rhinitis?" should actually say, "So I ask again, is it possible for triggers associated with allergic rhinitis to also cause non-allergic rhinitis?"

Sorry for the typos, I hope my inquiry is still understandable.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

Like i said in my previous posts - there is a considerable overalp. So either you could be having both allergic and non-allergic rhinitis or their could be certain substances otherwise associated with allegic rhinitis which could trigger symptos in case of non allergic rhinitis.

You also need to rule out associated sinusistis which could cause or aggravate your symptoms.

Hope this answers your queries to some extent.

Let us know if you need any other information.

Regards.