Allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis

Overview & Definition

A school-aged child who rubs the tip of their nose upwards, sneezes in bursts each spring morning, and breathes through their mouth at night is the classic picture of allergic rhinitis. The problem is an immunoglobulin-E-mediated inflammation of the nasal mucosa triggered by inhaled aeroallergens, producing the quartet of sneezing, nasal itch, anterior rhinorrhoea and congestion. [3]

When the same allergic process inflames the conjunctiva, the term allergic rhinoconjunctivitis is used, reflecting how often the nose and eyes are affected together. The 2024–2025 ARIA-EAACI guideline reaffirms allergic rhinitis as the most common chronic allergic disease of childhood and a major driver of impaired school attendance, sleep disturbance and reduced quality of life. [1]

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