Which body part is affected by allergic rhinitis primarily during allergy season?

Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, primarily affects the nose during allergy season. This condition occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens such as pollen, dust mites, or pet dander. When allergens enter the nasal passages, they trigger inflammation and irritation, leading to symptoms like sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, and itchy nasal passages.

While allergic rhinitis can also influence other areas such as the eyes (causing symptoms like redness and itching) and skin (with conditions like hives), the defining and most prominent symptoms that characterize allergic rhinitis are directly related to nasal symptoms. The nose serves as the first line of defense in filtering out allergens, and during allergy season when pollen counts are high, the incidence and severity of rhinitis symptoms in this area increase significantly. Thus, the nose is the body part primarily affected by allergic rhinitis during allergic seasons.