Conditions and symptoms
What Is Perennial Allergic Rhinitis? Year-Round Allergies
Perennial Allergic Rhinitis · say it: puh-REN-ee-ul uh-LUR-jik ry-NY-tisAlso written: year-round allergies, perennial allergies, PAR, indoor allergies
Short answer
Perennial allergic rhinitis is a year-round runny, blocked or itchy nose caused by allergies to indoor triggers like dust mites or pets.
What it means
Allergic rhinitis means inflammation inside the nose caused by an allergy. 'Perennial' means year-round. Perennial allergic rhinitis is usually triggered by indoor allergens such as house dust mites, pet dander, mould and cockroaches. Symptoms include sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy nose and sometimes itchy eyes.
It appears on antihistamine and steroid nasal spray labels as an indication. Labels may say a product treats 'seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis', meaning both hay fever and year-round allergies. They also give limits on how long to use some decongestant sprays and which age groups the product is for.
It differs from seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever), which is caused by pollen at certain times of year, and from non-allergic rhinitis, which causes similar symptoms without an allergy.
Where you may see it
- Antihistamine and steroid nasal spray labels under 'Uses'
- Allergy test results and clinic letters
- Over-the-counter allergy medicine packaging
📄 How it looks on a report
Indicated for the relief of nasal symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis.
🙅 What it does not mean
- Year-round symptoms are not always allergies; non-allergic rhinitis and other conditions can look similar.
- It is not an infection, so antibiotics do not help.
- Using a steroid nasal spray regularly is different from overusing a decongestant spray.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Perennial Allergic Rhinitis”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Cetirizine
an antihistamine of the selective H1-receptor antagonist type
- Montelukast
A leukotriene receptor antagonist, a medicine that blocks substances in the body called leukotrienes.
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Perennial Allergic Rhinitis” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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