Pregnancy rhinitis symptoms include a runny, itchy, or congested nose, sneezing, and watery eyes, which are comparable to those of allergic rhinitis ('hay fever'). While it may feel like you have a cold, pregnant rhinitis is not caused by a bacterial or viral illness and is thus not communicable. Symptoms can be controlled with medications such as antihistamines and nasal steroids. Rhinitis is inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and paranasal sinuses. There are two main types of rhinitis: seasonal and perennial. Perennial rhinitis symptoms usually do not go away even after the cause is removed (for example, when you stop smoking). Seasonal rhinitis symptoms appear only during certain seasons of the year. These causes of rhinitis include pollution, dust, mold, stress, diet, alcohol, drugs, and certain diseases. During pregnancy, your body is going through many changes that require special attention from you so that both you and the baby can stay healthy. Your immune system is lowered during pregnancy due to hormones produced by the placenta but that doesn't mean you can't fight off infections. Pregnant women should take all the usual precautions against infection, such as washing hands regularly, not sharing things like toothbrushes and towels, and not working around toxic chemicals. But there are some infections that should not be ignored because they could lead to serious problems for you and your baby.