  How
do doctors diagnose allergic rhinitis?
Doctors assess whether a person is likely to
have allergic rhinitis by considering
symptoms, finding out about the person’s
environment, doing a physical examination,
checking asthma control and investigating
allergies. Usually, the doctor will check
for rhinitis, then investigate whether this
is caused by allergies. Most cases of
rhinitis are due to allergy.
Your doctor may ask
you about:
-
when
your symptoms started and whether they
have become better or worse over time
-
whether you normally have symptoms at
particular times of the year
-
anything that seems to trigger the
symptoms or relieve them
-
allergic conditions (including asthma
due to allergies, skin allergies) and
whether family members have allergies
-
any
medications you have tried (e.g.
over-the-counter nasal sprays or
tablets)
-
your
home environment, type of work and
leisure activities.
Your doctor may also:
-
measure how well your lungs are working
using a spirometer, or arrange for you
to have this test. If you normally test
your own lungs using a peak flow meter
at home each day, bring your results.
-
offer
allergy tests – either skin-prick tests
or blood tests, or arrange for you to
have these tests done by a specialist
-
suggest that you try using a nasal spray
for a few weeks
-
refer
you to an allergy specialist or an ear,
nose and throat surgeon.
Allergy tests
Skin prick
testing and
blood tests
(RAST) are often
done to confirm
which triggers
will set off
your rhinitis.
The results of
allergy tests
provide useful
information when
analysed
together with
information
about your
symptoms and
other medical
history.
Other methods
that claim to
test for allergy
(e.g. cytotoxic
food testing,
kinesiology,
Vega testing,
pulse testing,
reflexology and
hair analysis)
are not useful
tests and should
not be used.
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