Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

Among the atopic disorders, allergic rhinitis is the most prevalent. Patients who suffer from allergic rhinitis sustain significant morbidity and loss of productivity. Cardinal symptoms include nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and nasal itching, although multiple related symptoms may occur. Causes should be ruled out with a thorough history and physical examination, with particular attention to red flag or atypical symptoms. Skin testing or serum sampling can confirm diagnosis and also guide therapy. Therapy is multimodal, tailored to a particular patient's symptom burden and quality of life.

Keywords: Allergen immunotherapy; Allergic rhinitis; Chronic rhinosinusitis; Nasal polyps; Serum-specific Ig E; Skin prick testing; Type 1 hypersensitivity; Vasomotor rhinitis.