Allergic rhinitis is an important chronic disease because of:

• prevalence

• impact on quality of life

• impact on efficiency and productivity at work and/or at school

• economic impact

• link with asthma

In addition, allergic rhinitis is associated with sinusitis and other symptoms, such as conjunctivitis. Allergic rhinitis should be considered a risk factor for asthma along with other known risk factors.

A new classification of allergic rhinitis has been proposed:

• intermittent

• persistent

The severity of allergic rhinitis has been classified as “mild” and “moderate-severe” based on symptoms and the resulting quality of life. Based on classification and severity, the following therapeutic scheme has been proposed.

The treatment of allergic rhinitis combines:

• elimination of allergen (when possible)
• pharmacological therapy
• immunotherapy

The environment and social factors should be optimized to enable the patient to lead a normal life.

Patients with persistent allergic rhinitis should be evaluated for asthma, auscultation and, if possible and when necessary, for outflow obstruction before and after bronchodilatation should be performed.

Patients with asthma should be properly evaluated on the basis of clinical history and physical examination for rhinitis.

Ideally,  combined strategy should be used to treat upper and lower respiratory diseases, in terms of efficiency and safety.