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Risk Factors for Allergic Rhinitis

A risk factor increases the chance of having a disease or condition. You can have allergic rhinitis with or without any of those risk factors listed below. But the more risks you have, the higher the chances of having allergic rhinitis.

Talk to your doctor about the steps you need to take to lower your risk.

Genetics

Allergies often run in families. Your chance of allergic rhinitis is much higher if 1 or both of parents have it.

Health Problems

Your chances of allergic rhinitis are higher if you have:

Age

Allergic rhinitis most often appears when you're a child. If you have problems at a younger age, they may not last into adulthood. If you started having problems after age 20, they may last through middle age.

Jobs

Some people have problems because of the work they do. This may be caused by:

  • Seed dust
  • Wood dust
  • Animal dander
  • Textile dust
  • Chemicals
  • Rubber latex
  • Certain foods and spices
  • Storage mites
  • Odors and fumes such as smoking or air pollution
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References:

Allergic rhinitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/allergic-rhinitis. Updated July 9, 2018. Accessed February 14, 2020.
Allergic rhinitis treatment. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America website. Available at: https://www.aafa.org/allergy-treatments/. Updated March 2018. Accessed February 14, 2020.
Allergy shots. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website. Available at: https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy-library/allergy-shots-(immunotherapy). Accessed February 14, 2020.
Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD