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Allergies

Non-allergic rhinitis

08/19/2004

Question:

If a person has had all three levels of skin testing for allergies and the results were virtually negative are they then diagnosed with non-allergic rhinitis? What is the general treatment for this? Is there any further testing that can be done? Thank you.

Answer:

Negative skin test results rule out or exclude allergy with a high degree of certainty. Non-allergic rhinitis is diagnosed in the absence of any other underlying cause of nasal symptoms. One should investigate for sinusitis, occupational causes, other inflammatory conditions of the nose ,etc. In the absence of the latter conditions, vasomotor non-allergic rhinitis is likely.

The most effective treatment are long acting oral decongestants (pseudoephedrine) taken regularly. Nasal sprays including atrovent and astelin are also indicated in non-allergic rhinitis. Anti-histamines and nasal steroids are seldom effective.

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Response by:

University of Cincinnati David I. Bernstein, MD
Professor of Medicine
Division of Immunology and Allergy
Department of Internal Medicine
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati
David I. Bernstein, MD