Children who have rhinitis can also develop a sore nose and a characteristic crease across the bridge of the nose through constant rubbing. For all these reasons it is important to get rhinitis diagnosed quickly and treated properly. Because the symptoms of rhinitis are often confused with that of the common cold, it can be difficult to identify rhinitis at first. Generally speaking, if cold symptoms persist for more than eight weeks, it is worth a trip to the doctor. They will take a full personal and family history and occasionally, if the diagnosis is not clear, they may suggest a skin test to confirm the allergy.
Allergic rhinitis is the most common form.
This usually means that there is something floating around in the air that they are allergic to and which triggers their symptoms. But for the unlucky few who have perennial rhinitis, they can experience problems all year round. Allergens around the home, such as house-dust mites, pet hair and dander are likely to be the key culprits here. If you are able to identify which allergens trigger your symptoms, it's a good idea to take steps to avoid them as much as possible. Two of the National Asthma Campaign's information booklets, Asthma in Daily Life, and Living with Hay Fever, are helpful for people with rhinitis as well as asthma.