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Symptoms of respiratory allergies
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Seasonality of allergic rhinitis depends on the spectrum of sensitization
- in case of household sensitization, clinical manifestations are observed all year round with an increase in the autumn-winter period;
- In case of pollen sensitization there is a distinct seasonality of exacerbations.
Allergic rhinitis in children is usually combined with sinusitis (pain on palpation at the point of exit of the trigeminal nerve, symmetrical darkening with uneven contours on the radiograph), eustachitis, adenoid hyperplasia, otitis and other lesions of the upper respiratory tract.
Paroxysmal sneezing, nasal congestion, mucous discharge (rhinorrhea) are typical clinical signs of allergic rhinitis
Severe itching causes the child to wrinkle his nose ("bunny nose"), the third ("allergic salute"), which results in the formation of a transverse fold on the border of the bone and cartilaginous parts of the nose. The child breathes through the mouth, swelling of the face appears, dark shadows under the eyes. Chronic allergic rhinitis leads to headaches, sleep disturbances, and decreased academic performance at school.
Rhinoscopically, in allergic rhinitis, one can determine pallor with a bluish tint of the nasal mucosa, its swelling, narrowing of the middle and lower nasal passages due to an increase in the volume of the middle and lower nasal turbinates.
A typical symptom of allergic pharyngitis is a dry, persistent cough, which is provoked by both specific allergens and non-specific effects. The patient usually does not feel pain; limited or diffuse swelling of the oropharynx is visible during examination.
Allergic laryngitis most often occurs in children under 3 years of age with sensitization to food products, although sensitization to other groups of allergens is also possible. The disease is usually recurrent.
Exacerbations often develop suddenly at night. A rough barking cough and hoarseness of voice appear. The trachea and bronchi are often involved in the allergic inflammatory process (allergic recurrent laryngotracheitis, laryngotracheobronchitis). The incidence of laryngeal stenosis is high.
Allergic tracheitis is clinically characterized by paroxysmal dry rough cough, which often occurs at night and is accompanied by painful sensations in the chest area. Despite the painful cough, the general condition of the child remains slightly disturbed. The paroxysmal nature of the cough, vomiting, which often occurs at the height of the attack, deterioration of the condition at night often serve as the basis for an erroneous diagnosis of whooping cough. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the etiological factor of allergic tracheitis is sensitization to household allergens.
Allergic obstructive bronchitis refers to respiratory allergies of the lower respiratory tract. According to modern concepts, this form of the disease is considered a variant of mild bronchial asthma, since the etiological factors and pathogenetic mechanisms of allergic obstructive bronchitis completely coincide with the etiology and pathogenesis of asthma.
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