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How to determine allergies?

by Medindia Content Team on May 9 2002 5:27 PM

Doctors at the Mayo Clinic felt that, one should not assume sneezing and watery eyes are always due to allergy. If you start to sneeze during the spring months, you may well assume it's a pollen allergy starting up.If all the allergy tests shows negative, the only solution or diagnosis might be pollen allergy.

Doctors at the Mayo Clinic remind us there's such a condition as non-allergic rhinitis. Here the inner lining of the nose is just extra-sensitive to certain substances such as perfume, smoke or even rapid changes in temperature. But the immune system is not involved, so there is no allergy. Once exposed, the nasal membranes swell in response, leading to the too-familiar symptom of nasal congestion, perhaps accompanied by sneezing and watery eyes. The best solution is to avoid the irritant, once you find out what it is. Over-the-counter saline sprays, antihistamines and corticosteroids may also be helpful.


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