ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is when your nose and eyes get itchy and runny because you're allergic to things in the air like pollen, dust, pet dander, and mold.

Just think of your nose like a filter that keeps bad things out of your body. Sometimes, your nose can get confused and think that harmless things like pollen are actually bad for you, so it tries to filter them out.

This causes your body to make a lot of a chemical called histamine, which can make your nose and eyes feel scratchy and watery.

Sometimes, people with allergic rhinitis also get congested, which means their nose gets really stuffy and it's harder to breathe.

Doctors can help by giving you medicine that helps block histamine and other chemicals that cause allergy symptoms. They can also do tests to figure out exactly what you're allergic to, so you can avoid those things or get special medicine for them.

Overall, allergic rhinitis can feel yucky and make you feel pretty uncomfortable, but with the help of your doctors and some basic precautions, you can feel better and breathe easier.