HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Allergic Rhinitis
Cause
Allergic rhinitis, often called hay fever, occurs when your
Reference immune system overreacts Opens New Window Reference 
Opens New Window to particles in the air that
you breathe—you are allergic to them. Your immune system causes symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose. The particles
are called
allergens, which simply means they can cause an
allergic reaction.
Several Reference types of allergens cause allergic rhinitis, including pollens, mold, dust mites, animal dander, and cockroaches. Although polluted air is not an allergen, it can irritate your nose and lungs. An irritated nose or lungs may make an allergic reaction more likely when you breathe in an allergen.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference May 30, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Rohit K Katial, MD - Allergy and Immunology |
|
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