Overview of allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND

Allergic rhinitis is the most common chronic condition seen in the outpatient practice of medicine. Its incidence is rising in parallel with other IgE-mediated diseases, affecting 10 to 30% of adults and up to 40% of children. Half the patients with allergic rhinitis experience symptoms up to 4 months per year, whereas 20% are symptomatic more than 9 months of the year. This disease is often associated with asthma, sinusitis, and otitis media.

OBJECTIVE

To review the literature concerning the evaluation and treatment of allergic rhinitis.

DATA SOURCES: Epidemiologic, pathophysiologic, and clinical studies published in peer-reviewed journals concerning the topic of allergic rhinitis.

RESULTS

Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is based on patient history, signs and symptoms, physical examination, and appropriate testing procedures. Management includes aggressive environmental control measures to reduce exposure to implicated allergens, immunotherapy that can change the potential clinical course of allergic rhinitis by preventing the initiation and progression of airway inflammation, and pharmacotherapeutic management, including antihistamines and topical nasal corticosteroids.

CONCLUSIONS

Early recognition and management of allergic rhinitis, which include allergen avoidance, immunotherapy, and pharmacologic treatment, can prevent serious complications and significantly improve the patient's quality of life.