[Allergic rhinitis: pathology of general interest]

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis may appear of little value but at present its high and still increasing prevalence, its socio-economic burden, the frequent association with asthma and the significant impairment of quality of life in affected patients make it a disease of general importance. The ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) guidelines allow to properly recognize the mild forms and the moderate/severe forms, and, based on the duration of symptoms, the intermittent and persistent forms. Etiologic diagnosis can be suspected by history data but the certainty can be achieved only by allergy testing. The treatment is mainly based on oral or nasal topical antihistamines and topical corticosteroids, that ensure in most cases a satisfactory control of symptoms. However, there are patients who have an insufficient response to drugs, event at high doses. Recent studies showed that patients not controlled by drug treatment achieve a significant benefit from allergen specific immunotherapy, currently available by the subcutaneous and sublingual route. This should be considered as a criterion to choose patients for specific immunotherapy, who must be referred to the allergy specialist.