Common symptoms of allergic rhinitis are similar to a cold and include:

• sneezing
• an itchy nose
• a runny or blocked nose
• itchy, red and watery eyes
• a cough
• the roof of your mouth being itchy

This usually happens within minutes of coming into contact with something you're allergic to.

Allergic rhinitis is caused by an allergic reaction.

Common allergies include:

• pollen from trees, grass and weeds (hay fever)
• house dust mites
• dander - flakes of dead skin found in the fur of animals such as dogs and cats
• mould
• wood dust, flour dust and latex

You're more likely to get an allergy if people in your family also have them or conditions such as eczema and asthma.

Allergic rhinitis is different from non-allergic rhinitis, which is caused by things like having a cold, very hot or cold temperatures and humidity.

You can often treat allergic rhinitis without seeing a GP.

If you can, try to avoid the things that trigger your allergies.

A pharmacist can also advise you about medicines that can help, such as:

• antihistamines
• decongestant nasal sprays or drops to unblock your nose (decongestants should not be used by children under 6)
• steroid nasal sprays
• salt water nasal sprays or solutions to rinse out the inside of your nose

You can buy nasal sprays without a prescription, but they should not be used for long periods as this can make your symptoms worse.

Check with the pharmacist or check the leaflet that comes with the medicine for how long you should use it for.

Find a pharmacy

If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.

See a GP if:

If pharmacy medicines do not help ease your allergic rhinitis symptoms, a GP may prescribe a different medicine, such as prescription steroid nasal sprays or antihistamines.

You may be referred to a specialist for further tests and treatment if it's not clear what's causing your symptoms or they're severe.

If you have allergic rhinitis, it's not always possible to avoid the things you're allergic to. But there are steps you can take to try to help reduce your symptoms.

Find out more

• Allergy UK has more information on living with allergies