Hay fever natural history, complications and prognosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Complications

Drowsiness and other side effects of antihistamines
Side-effects of other medications (see the specific medication)
Asthma
Sinusitis
Nasal polyps
Disruption of lifestyle (usually not too severe)

Prognosis

Most symptoms of allergic rhinitis can be readily treated.

In some cases (particularly in children), people may outgrow an allergy as the immune system becomes less sensitive to the allergen. However, as a general rule, once a substance causes allergies for an individual, it can continue to affect the person over the long term.

More severe cases of allergic rhinitis require immunotherapy (allergy shots) or removal of tissue in the nose (e.g., nasal polyps) or sinuses. A case-control study found “symptomatic allergic rhinitis and rhinitis medication use are associated with a significantly increased risk of unexpectedly dropping a grade in summer examinations”.^[1]

References

↑ Walker S, Khan-Wasti S, Fletcher M, Cullinan P, Harris J, Sheikh A (2007). “Seasonal allergic rhinitis is associated with a detrimental effect on examination performance in United Kingdom teenagers: case-control study”. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 120 (2): 381–7. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2007.03.034. PMID 17560637.

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[pmid17560637-1] Walker S, Khan-Wasti S, Fletcher M, Cullinan P, Harris J, Sheikh A (2007). “Seasonal allergic rhinitis is associated with a detrimental effect on examination performance in United Kingdom teenagers: case-control study”. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 120 (2): 381–7. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2007.03.034. PMID 17560637.

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