Health and Me

Dr. Sayan Mukherjee

Allergic Rhinitis Affects 1 In 10 Indian Adults. Here's Why Monsoon Makes It Worse, And What Helps

Chai and pakoras are practically non-negotiable once the rains set in. For a large number of Indians, though, monsoon comes with something less welcome: a blocked nose, itchy eyes, and a "cold" that just won't quit.

Most people write this off as a seasonal cold. It's often not. A large share of the patients I see in July aren't fighting a fresh infection. They're dealing with allergic rhinitis that's been present for months at a manageable level, and monsoon has simply pushed it past a threshold they can no longer ignore.

The scale of this is easy to underestimate. A national study under the Global <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/asthma">Asthma</a> Network, which surveyed more than 1.27 lakh children, adolescents, and adults across India, found that close to a quarter of Indian adolescents aged 13 to 14 live with allergic rhinitis. Roughly one in ten adults does too.

Other Indian research puts the overall incidence of allergic rhinitis anywhere between 20 and 30 percent of the population. This isn't a niche complaint. It's one of the more common chronic conditions walking through general practice doors, most of which are simply unnamed.

<h2>Mostly Undiagnosed, Rarely Treated Right</h2>

The same national study found something more concerning: nearly three out of four people who met the clinical criteria for allergic rhinitis had never actually been diagnosed with it. Many had lived with recurring congestion, sneezing, and disturbed sleep for years without anyone connecting the dots.

A separate survey of over 1,600 physicians across India found that while a large share see allergic rhinitis routinely in practice, more than half had never used immunotherapy, one of the few treatments that changes the course of the disease rather than just quieting it temporarily.

Indian allergen-testing data show a clear rotation of triggers through the year: dust mites dominate winter, pollens dominate summer, and fungal and insect allergens rise sharply once the rains set in.

The reason is straightforward. Once relative humidity in a city climbs past 70 percent, which happens routinely through the monsoon, fungal spores and dust mites both multiply fast. Waterlogging pushes fungal spore counts up further. A damp curtain or a mattress that never quite dries between showers becomes a long-term allergen source that outlasts any single rainy day.

Allergic skin and eye conditions tend to flare with the same seasonal humidity and allergen load as allergic rhinitis, and in practice, they rarely show up in isolation. A patient with monsoon-triggered nasal symptoms is worth a closer look for coexisting asthma, <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/eczema">eczema</a>, or conjunctivitis, simply because in the Indian patient population, these conditions travel together more often than not.

For anyone with a known allergic condition, a few habits make a real difference once the rains arrive:

<ul><li>Start early. Begin or review your antihistamine or inhaled treatment before the monsoon sets in, not after symptoms flare. Allergic inflammation is far easier to control early than to bring down once it's escalated.</li><li>Keep the fabric genuinely dry. Bedding, curtains, and upholstery that stay even slightly damp become breeding grounds for the mold and dust mites driving most flares. Check for indoor allergens rather than just blaming obvious outdoor ones.</li><li>Ventilate or dehumidify. Especially in bedrooms, where hours of overnight exposure do the most damage.</li><li>Keep rescue medication accessible through the season, not just on bad days.</li><li>Don't wait out a flare that lasts beyond a week. That's usually the point where a proper allergy workup is overdue.</li><li>If it happens every single monsoon, that pattern itself is a diagnosis worth acting on, not just enduring.</li></ul>

Monsoon doesn't create new allergy patients. It reveals how well the existing ones are actually being looked after.

“Let knowledge be your shield against the changing seasons."

Health Conditions A-Z

health

allergic-rhinitis-affects-1-in-10-indian-adults-heres-why-monsoon-makes-it-worse-and-what-helps

Allergic Rhinitis

Monsoon

Asthma

Allergic skin

allergens

Allergic inflammation

eczema

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Chai and pakoras are practically non-negotiable once the rains set in. For a large number of Indians, though, monsoon comes with something less welcome: a blocked nose, itchy eyes, and a "cold" that just won't quit.Most people write this off as a seasonal cold. It's often not. A large share of the patients I see in July aren't fighting a fresh infection. They're dealing with allergic rhinitis that's been present for months at a manageable level, and monsoon has simply pushed it past a threshold they can no longer ignore.A Bigger Problem Than It LooksThe scale of this is easy to underestimate. A national study under the Global Asthma Network, which surveyed more than 1.27 lakh children, adolescents, and adults across India, found that close to a quarter of Indian adolescents aged 13 to 14 live with allergic rhinitis. Roughly one in ten adults does too.Other Indian research puts the overall incidence of allergic rhinitis anywhere between 20 and 30 percent of the population. This isn't a niche complaint. It's one of the more common chronic conditions walking through general practice doors, most of which are simply unnamed.Mostly Undiagnosed, Rarely Treated RightThe same national study found something more concerning: nearly three out of four people who met the clinical criteria for allergic rhinitis had never actually been diagnosed with it. Many had lived with recurring congestion, sneezing, and disturbed sleep for years without anyone connecting the dots.A separate survey of over 1,600 physicians across India found that while a large share see allergic rhinitis routinely in practice, more than half had never used immunotherapy, one of the few treatments that changes the course of the disease rather than just quieting it temporarily.Why Monsoon Makes It WorseIndian allergen-testing data show a clear rotation of triggers through the year: dust mites dominate winter, pollens dominate summer, and fungal and insect allergens rise sharply once the rains set in.The reason is straightforward. Once relative humidity in a city climbs past 70 percent, which happens routinely through the monsoon, fungal spores and dust mites both multiply fast. Waterlogging pushes fungal spore counts up further. A damp curtain or a mattress that never quite dries between showers becomes a long-term allergen source that outlasts any single rainy day.It Rarely Comes AloneAllergic skin and eye conditions tend to flare with the same seasonal humidity and allergen load as allergic rhinitis, and in practice, they rarely show up in isolation. A patient with monsoon-triggered nasal symptoms is worth a closer look for coexisting asthma, eczema, or conjunctivitis, simply because in the Indian patient population, these conditions travel together more often than not.What Actually HelpsFor anyone with a known allergic condition, a few habits make a real difference once the rains arrive:Start early. Begin or review your antihistamine or inhaled treatment before the monsoon sets in, not after symptoms flare. Allergic inflammation is far easier to control early than to bring down once it's escalated.Keep the fabric genuinely dry. Bedding, curtains, and upholstery that stay even slightly damp become breeding grounds for the mold and dust mites driving most flares. Check for indoor allergens rather than just blaming obvious outdoor ones.Ventilate or dehumidify. Especially in bedrooms, where hours of overnight exposure do the most damage.Keep rescue medication accessible through the season, not just on bad days.Don't wait out a flare that lasts beyond a week. That's usually the point where a proper allergy workup is overdue.If it happens every single monsoon, that pattern itself is a diagnosis worth acting on, not just enduring.Monsoon doesn't create new allergy patients. It reveals how well the existing ones are actually being looked after.“Let knowledge be your shield against the changing seasons."

allergic rhinitis affects 1 in 10 indian adults. here's why monsoon makes it worse, and what helps

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