ABSTRACT
Allergic rhinitis is characterized by inflammatory changes in the nasal mucosa caused by exposure to inhaled allergens. Allergic rhinitis and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis are caused by an inflammatory response to an allergen to which the patient has already been exposed. Allergic rhinitis is subdivided into intermittent (IAR) or persistent (PER) disease and the severity into mild or moderate/severe. Genetic factors are certainly involved in the aetiology of allergic rhinitis. Having parents who are atopic may increase the risk of a child having an allergic disease by 3–6 times. For many patients, a clear history that fits with allergic rhinitis and a corresponding nasal examination will allow a diagnosis to be made confidently, though in specialist practice skin prick tests will normally be carried out as part of the standard workup. Sodium cromoglicate nasal spray has modest effects on rhinitis symptoms but must be used four times daily, which limits compliance.
