Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
Family history
- Are there any people in your family who suffer from allergy(s)?
Social history
- What is your profession?
- Are you exposed to harmful working substances in your profession?
- Did you grow up in the countryside or in the city?
- Do you have any siblings? Are you the oldest?
- Have you been breastfed?
- Were you exposed to cigarette smoke during your first year of life?
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- Have you noticed symptoms such as sneezing, itching, or runny nose (after contact with allergens)?
- Have you noticed swelling of the nasal mucosa?
- Have you noticed burning, itching and redness of the eyes (after allergen contact)?
- Have you noticed watery eyes or swelling of the conjunctiva?
- Do you have a sore throat or dry cough?
- Are you short of breath after allergen contact?
- Do you feel tired and unfocused?
- Do your symptoms cause sleep disturbances* ?
- Do your complaints affect your daily private and/or professional activities* ?
- Do you have attacks of shortness of breath?
- Do you have coughing or a whistling breathing sound after exertion?
Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis.
Self anamnesis incl. medication anamnesis
- Pre-existing conditions (infections)
- Operations
- Allergies
- Medication history
Degree of complaint of rhinitis
| Grade | Description | Questions answered with “yes” (see above questions with * ). |
| I | Low rhinitis | none |
| II | moderate rhinitis | one of the questions |
| III | severe rhinitis | both questions |
