I was first introduced to the concept of allergic rhinitis at 5 years of age with sneezes, a runny nose and itchy eyes every day. While my family members were used to the ambient sounds of sneezing and nose blowing, it was not the case for my classmates. The most embarrassing encounter at school was sneezing during school ceremonies; in exchange I received irritated stares. The black circles under both eyes, which I later learnt were ‘allergic shiners’, caused the most frustration. I was frequently greeted by ‘You look tired, did you sleep enough last night?’. On most nights I had a stuffy nose and therefore did not sleep well; it was not uncommon for me to head back to school the next day looking unrefreshed.

Desperate to find a way out, I sought medical advice and was soon put on inhaled corticosteroids and antihistamine tablets. They were not particularly useful in alleviating my symptoms, so I soon stopped taking these medications. At my next doctor’s visit, the paediatrician patiently explained that inhaled corticosteroids work on a receptor level so it takes time to work; persistent compliance is therefore needed to see a change. Understanding the drug’s mechanism of action, I was better convinced to stick with the regimen. He also recommended measures to reduce the house dust mites (HDM) in my home, as they are the leading source of indoor allergens triggering allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. This included keeping plush toys in …