Allergic Rhinitis

One of the most common presentations of allergies in both children and adults involves the nose and eyes. The clinical condition involving nasal symptoms is called “rhinitis” and we call allergic involvement of the eyes “conjunctivitis”. We all know people who suffer from allergic rhinitis, or “hay fever”. You can spot them from across the room- tissue in hand, sneezing, sniffling, blowing their nose, tearing, and rubbing their eyes. If fortunate, these symptoms are but a minor inconvenience, but, if severe, they can significantly affect one’s quality of life. Rhinitis can be chronic or acute  Allergies involving the nose and eyes are almost always caused by the contact of an offending “allergen” to the mucous membrane lining of