Allergic rhinitis (AR) or allergic inflammation of the nasal airways is an atopic disease presenting with symptoms of sneezing, nasal congestion, clear rhinorrhea, and nasal pruritis. It is an IgE-mediated immune response that is against inhaled antigens in the immediate phase, with a subsequent leukotriene-mediated late phase.
The diagnosis of allergic rhinitis can be made on clinical grounds based upon the presence of characteristic symptoms (ie, paroxysms of sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, nasal itching, postnasal drip, cough, irritability, and fatigue), a suggestive clinical history (including the presence of risk factors), and supportive findings on physical examination. Allergy skin testing confirms that the patient is sensitized to aeroallergens, although it is not necessary for the initial diagnosis. Avoidance of triggers, especially in those with seasonal symptoms, is encouraged, although it is not always practical. Precautions can be taken to avoid dust mites, animal dander, and upholstery, though this can require significant lifestyle changes that may not be acceptable to the patient. If removing a pet from home is not feasible, isolating the pet to a single room in the house may be an option to minimize dander exposure. It may take up to 20 weeks to eliminate cat dander from home even after removing the animal. Allergen-impermeable bedding covers, washing sheets in hot water, and the use of a vacuum cleaner with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters may also lessen symptoms. Pharmacological options include antihistamines, intranasal steroids, leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs), and immunotherapy.
| Codes | Code Description |
|---|---|
| J30.2 | Other seasonal allergic rhinitis |
| J30.9 | Allergic rhinitis, unspecified |
| J30.0 | Vasomotor rhinitis |
| J30.1 | Allergic rhinitis due to pollen |
| J30.5 | Allergic rhinitis due to food |
| J30.81 | Allergic rhinitis due to animal (cat) (dog) hair and dander |
| J30.89 | Other allergic rhinitis |
DocCharge: Be productive again! Practice analytics, mobile charge capture, HIPAA compliant messaging, and tools for billers.
DocCharge is a mobile physician productivity platform enabling physicians and clinicians to save time by efficiently capture patient billings, communicate with back office and maximize revenue by avoiding lost charges using real-time analytics on a mobile device. Designed by a physician for fellow physicians, residents/fellows, and mid-level providers, DocCharge maximizes one’s productivity. Practice Administrators and outsourced billing companies find the application very intuitive, thus improving practice efficiency and revenue.
DocCharge is transforming healthcare data into useful and actionable insights, thereby allowing partner subscribers to focus their resources on the core business of providing high quality patient care. For more information, visit www.DocCharge.com, email: contact@DocCharge.com.
