Public Health

Allergic Rhinitis and findings from Burn Pit Registry participants

Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever or allergies, is a common condition that can cause sneezing; a runny or stuffy nose; itching of the eyes, nose, and mouth; post-nasal drip; cough; irritability; and fatigue. It is not life threating, but it can make you feel more sleepy or uncomfortable. Allergic rhinitis affects 10-30% of children and adults in the United States and other developed countries¹.

Among participants in VA’s Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, hay fever or allergies are the third most commonly reported health condition of Veterans who served in Southwest Asia after insomnia and neurological problems. This survey asks participants “Have you been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had hay fever or allergies to pollen, dust or animals?” Among registry participants from the start of the registry through 2020, 88,598 (39.6%) answered yes.

Some of the common causes of allergic rhinitis are pollen from trees or grasses, dust mites, animal dander and mold.  It typically takes a few years of allergen exposure to develop. One of the mainstays of treatment is removal from the source of the allergies. This is good news if your symptoms were worsened by deployment; however, if you suffer from the condition in the states, you may not be able to move to get away from the source of the exposure.

Fortunately, effective treatments are available to relieve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. If you have this condition, talk to your health care provider about a treatment for you. Learn more about allergic rhinitis from the Veterans Health Library.

For more findings from the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, go to the latest Summary of Self Reported Registry data.

Findings from Registry Question

Answers to the question “Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health care professional that you had __________?” in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry.  

1. Source: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/allergic-rhinitis-clinical-manifestations-epidemiology-and diagnosis?search=allergic%20rhinitis&source=search_result&selectedTitle=2~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=2

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