[Allergic rhinitis. Immunological and neurogenic mechanisms]

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common diseases to affect humans. It is important to note that it is an immunological disease which is associated with significant changes in the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. Clinical symptoms of allergic rhinitis include sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal itching, and nasal congestion. The mechanism underlying the development of symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis are complex, including activation and infiltration of inflammatory cells, edema, increased and altered gland activity, nerve terminal activation, triggering of neurogenic inflammation and morphologically detectable remodelling processes in the mucous membrane. Finally, a systematic activation of immune processes also takes place. Thus, allergic rhinitis is clearly a serious disease requiring prompt and effective treatment; moreover, it has been unjustly trivialized to date, not least because of its high incidence.