ABSTRACT
Rhinitis, which can be classified as allergic or nonallergic, is an exceptionally common disorder characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the nasal passages. The symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR), which can be difficult to accurately distinguish from those of non-AR (NAR), typically include sneezing, nasal itch, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, and postnasal drip. Based on timing or periodicity of symptoms, ARmay be classified as either seasonal or perennial (1). An alternative classification presented in the World Health Organization’s Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma guidelines utilizes a combination of severity (mild or moderately severe) and persistence (intermittent or persistent) (2). In the United States, ‘‘seasonal’’ and ‘‘perennial’’ remain the classification scheme most frequently employed.
