Allergy tests are very useful in determining the cause of allergic nasal disease. Nasal allergies are common in Ireland with at least 25 % of people experiencing allergic rhinitis during the pollen season. Hay fever occurs between April and August when grass pollen counts are high. Some people suffer from non-seasonal rhinitis throughout the year. They are often allergic to indoor allergens such as dust mite, moulds or animals, or may be developing allergy through occupational exposures. Standard treatment consists of allergen avoidance where possible, nasal steroid sprays and oral antihistamines. Sometimes nasal allergy is associated with eye allergy which is known as allergic rhino-conjunctivitis. Sublingual immunotherapy maybe a useful option in more severely affected people with hayfever ( see services). It is also avaialble for individuals who suffer from dust allergy. Nasal allergy is commonly found to exist in patient with asthma in between 50-80% of cases. Effective treatment of nasal allergy can lead to better asthma control and less asthma medication (the united airway theory).
