The symptoms

Signs suggestive of rhinitis or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis are:
•    clear nasal discharge
•    nasal obstruction of varying degrees
•    sneezing fits
•    itchy nose and/or palate,
•    very often conjunctivitis in the form of watery eyes, redness and tingling sensation.

These symptoms are the expression of inflammation initiated by the interaction between one or more allergens and the specific IgE antibodies triggering activation of the allergic reaction. When these symptoms occur episodically, during certain seasons, the term used is seasonal rhinitis. It often indicates an allergy to pollen or the spores of mould. The layman's term is "hay fever".

Rhinitis persisting throughout the year is termed "perennial rhinitis". It reflects sensitisation to one or more allergenic elements which are permanently present in the environment (house dust mites, animal hair, indoor moulds, for instance).
It can be associated with ocular irritation (allergic rhino-conjunctivitis).