Further Outpatient Care
- Immunotherapy (desensitization) is a long-term process; noticeable improvement is often not observed for 6-12 months, and, if helpful, therapy should be continued for 3-5 years.
Deterrence/Prevention
- Patients should avoid factors that may cause or exacerbate allergic rhinitis (see Medical Care).
Complications
- Possible complications include otitis media, eustachian tube dysfunction, acute sinusitis, and chronic sinusitis.[4]
Patient Education
- Educate patients on environmental control measures, which involve both the avoidance of known allergens (substances to which the patient has IgE-mediated hypersensitivity) and the avoidance of nonspecific, or irritant, triggers (see Medical Care).
- For excellent patient education resources visit eMedicine's Allergy Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education articles Hay Fever, Indoor Allergens, and Allergy Shots.
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