Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)

Definition

Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is a reaction to airborne allergens. It affects between 1:6 and 1:10 Americans and is an IgE-mediated disorder of the immune system; 70% of cases occur before age 30. Symptoms resemble those of viral rhinitis but persist and show seasonal variation. This most common form of allergy involves the entire respiratory system—nasal cavity, mouth, throat, bronchi, lungs, and diaphragm. There is an inherited tendency, with a child having a 50% chance of developing such allergy if one parent is allergic and a 75% chance if both parents are allergic. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Allergic rhinitism, hay fever
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