Rhinitis Alergi: Etiologi, Faktor Resiko, Patofisiologi, Diagnosis dan Tatalaksana

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an inflammatory process of the nasal mucosa initiated by a hypersensitivity reaction and caused by exposure to allergens mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE), with several characteristic symptoms including: nasal congestion, a runny nose or watery nasal discharge (rhinorrhea), nasal itching, sneezing, and  postnasal drip (PND). According to the World Health Organization’s Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (WHO-ARIA) guidelines, based on the duration of symptoms, allergic rhinitis is classified into two categories: intermittent allergic rhinitis (symptoms lasting less than 4 days per week or for less than 4 weeks) and persistent allergic rhinitis (symptoms lasting more than 4 days per week and for more than 4 weeks). The prevalence of allergic rhinitis based on a doctor’s diagnosis is approximately 15%; however, it is estimated to reach 30% when considering patients with nasal symptoms. Appropriate management of allergic rhinitis, in addition to alleviating symptoms, is also expected to improve the quality of life of patients whose lives have been disrupted by the condition, as the higher the severity and frequency of allergic rhinitis symptoms, the greater the impact on reduced quality of life.