Rubbing the eyes makes them worse. Itching skin, dry throat and wheezing can also occur. Since airborne allergens are generally too small to be visible, it is difficult to predict when, or even why, you may suffer an attack. For example, if you are allergic to cats, you may start to sneeze on entering an empty room that has been frequented by a cat. The reason is that tiny, unseen pieces of cat skin are still floating about in the room.
Allergic rhinitis is very common.
Although there is a widespread belief that young people tend to grow out of allergic rhinitis in their late teens or early twenties, this is not necessarily so. Anyone can have the disorder or can grow into it or out of it at any age. You are particularly susceptible, though, if you are under 40 years of age and have another allergic condition such as asthma or eczema, or if any such condition runs in your family. Many people suffer from more than one variety of allergic rhinitis, both seasonal and perennial. Although it can be a lifelong scourge, allergic rhinitis does not normally endanger the sufferer's general health.