Nonallergic rhinitis

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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Nonallergic rhinitis involves chronic sneezing or having a congested, drippy nose with no apparent cause. The symptoms of nonallergic rhinitis are similar to those of hay fever (allergic rhinitis), but there's no allergic reaction involved. Nonallergic rhinitis can affect children and adults, but is more common after age 20.

Although nonallergic rhinitis is more annoying than harmful, it can make you miserable. Triggers of nonallergic rhinitis symptoms vary from person to person and can include certain odors or irritants in the air, changes in the weather, some medications, certain foods, and chronic health conditions. A diagnosis of nonallergic rhinitis is made after an allergy is ruled out. This may require allergy skin or blood tests.

References
  1. Lieberman PL. Chronic nonallergic rhinitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 6, 2010.
  2. Fletcher RH, et al. Patient information: Nonallergic rhinitis (runny or stuffy nose). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 11, 2010.
  3. Tips to remember: Rhinitis. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/professionals/resources/pdf/rhinitis1998.pdf. Accessed May 11, 2010.
  4. Groves M, et al. Diseases of the head and neck. In: Bope E, et al. Conn's Current Therapy. St. Louis, Mo.: Saunders; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6642-2..00003-X--sc0060&uniq=200610332&isbn=978-1-4160-6642-2&sid=996342451. Accessed May 11, 2010.
  5. Balkissoon RC, et al. Allergic and nonallergic rhinitis. In: Mason. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/100043154-3/727557488/1288/368.html#4-u1.0-B0-7216-0327-0..50043-4--cesec4_2479. Accessed May 13, 2010.
  6. Naegleria FAQs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/faqs.html. Accessed Dec. 30, 2011.
DS00809 Jan. 20, 2012

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