Diagnosing Nasal Allergies
Before you can begin to treat your nasal allergy symptoms, it is important that
a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies) be confirmed by your doctor.
The diagnosis of any condition begins with a thorough history and physical
exam. Nasal allergies are no exception. Your doctor may want to know:
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What nasal allergy symptoms you are having
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How severe your nasal allergy symptoms are
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When and how often you've been having those nasal allergy symptoms
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How long your nasal allergy symptoms last after they begin
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If your nasal allergy symptoms flare when you are exposed to any specific
substances or situations
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What medications, prescription and over-the-counter, you have taken in the past
or are currently taking for your nasal allergy symptoms
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What, if anything, relieves your nasal allergy symptoms
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The degree to which your nasal allergy symptoms interfere with your ability to
function
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About any family history of nasal allergies
Be sure you share as much about your condition as you can with the doctor. It
may be helpful to fill out the Info for Your Doctor form. Your doctor may also
want to know about any other medical conditions that you may have, such as
asthma.
The Physical Exam
When you are evaluated for a possible diagnosis of nasal allergies, you will
have a physical exam that will focus on the nose, eyes, ears, and throat. The
doctor may also listen to your lungs. In looking at your nose, your doctor will
focus on:
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What your internal nasal membranes look like
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How open your nasal passages are
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Whether your nasal inflammation is one-sided or on both sides
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The quality and quantity of your nasal discharge
Allergists: Should I See a Specialist?
Your doctor may recommend visiting an allergist, who will be helpful in
diagnosing the exact nature of your nasal allergies, or in establishing the
most effective nasal allergy treatment plan. This is especially likely if
you've had nasal allergy symptoms for a long time, or if you've experienced any
of the complications of rhinitis, such as ear infections, sinusitis, or nasal
polyps.
A Rhinoscopy and Allergy Skin Testing
An allergist may decide to use a rhinoscopy to examine your upper airways. This
test is done by inserting a narrow tube with a light at the end of it through
your nose into your airways. The allergist may also perform allergy skin
testing. These tests can yield useful information about your sensitivity to
certain triggers.
A thorough examination and accurate diagnosis will help your doctor develop your
personal nasal allergy management plan.
What About Medication?
When you discuss nasal allergy treatment with your doctor, you may want to ask
about RHINOCORT AQUA. RHINOCORT AQUA provides effective nasal allergy relief
for seasonal and the perennial nasal allergies. And it is scent-free and
alcohol-free.
RHINOCORT AQUA has been shown to be effective with one spray per nostril*
once daily. It can help provide effective, same-day relief from nasal allergy
symptoms, whether you have them seasonally or all year long. Patients noticed
improvement in their nasal symptoms within 10 hours of first using RHINOCORT
AQUA.
Only your doctor can determine if RHINOCORT AQUA is right for you.
Be sure to check out other pages on this Web site that you might find useful for
your particular allergy situation.
