Rhinitis Symptoms: Frontal Headache

Another name for allergic rhinitis is hay fever.

Rhinitis is the medical term for inflammation of the nose. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are two types of rhinitis, but only one type, allergic rhinitis (or hay fever) is associated with a headache as well as a sore nose.

Identification

An allergic rhinitis or hay fever headache is located at the front of the face, around the nose, eyebrows and upper teeth. The pain may be worse when lying down than when standing up.

Types

The Mayo Clinic states that there are two types of allergic rhinitis (hay fever): seasonal and perennial (year round). Frontal headache can happen in both types.

Causes

The headache itself is brought on by clogged sinuses. The reason they become blocked or inflamed is due to whatever is causing the body to give off allergic reactions such as pet dander or pollen.

Misconception

According to Judith Shannon Lynch, MS, MA, APRN, symptoms of headache, sore nose and throat or eyes in perennial allergic rhinitis are also similar to chronic sinusitis. This can make diagnosis and getting proper treatment difficult.

Treatment

Medicines to treat hay fever headache can be a short term painkiller such as acetaminophen combined with a medication to drain the sinuses, such as an antihistamine.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Hay Fever: Symptoms
• Differentiating Between Allergic Rhinitis and Chronic Sinusitis by Judith Shannon Lynch, MS, MA, APRN
• Children with Hay Fever More Likely to Experience Headaches, Facial Pain

Resources

• Patient UK: Hay Fever
• Allergic Rhinitis by Jack M. Becker, MD
• A Review of Allergic Rhinitis