While many urgent care patients present in the early days of spring with the common symptoms of stuffy nose and sneezing, an allergic rhinitis diagnosis can be somewhat nuanced, according to a review in JAMA Network. Allergic rhinitis, seasonal allergic rhinitis, perennial allergic rhinitis, and non-allergic rhinitis each have different typical symptoms, and therefore, there can be differences in treatment, according to the authors. In a follow-up, MedPage Today reports the majority of allergic rhinitis patients experience onset in childhood, and very few will suddenly experience new allergies as adults. Among the differential diagnoses for adults with new onset allergy symptoms might be chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, or non-allergic rhinitis.Â
Floral notes: Some observers believe allergy season may be getting longer, according to Healthline. An especially warm or early spring can inspire added growth in plants that produce pollen, allowing them more time to produce the irritants that aggravate seasonal allergies.