Allergic Rhinitis

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Allergic rhinitis affects one in six individuals and it can have a very negative effect in a person’s quality of life and productivity. Allergic rhinitis was thought to be a disease process of the nasal airway alone, but is now  classified as a component of systemic allergic response, with other associated conditions, such as asthma. In addition to nasal symptoms, patients with AR may also present with associated allergic conjunctivitis, non-productive cough, Eustachian tube dysfunction, and chronic sinusitis. While the prevalence of physician diagnosis of AR is 15%, it is estimated that it could be as high as 30% based on patients with nasal symptoms.  It is important for physicians to know how to diagnose and treat AR.

Learning Objectives:

After participating in this lecture, participants will be able to:

• • Understand the importance of Allergic Rhinitis with regard to our patients overall quality of life, well-being, and its implications upon other body systems.  “The Whole Person”
  • Define allergic rhinitis (AR) and identify it’s cause of clinical signs and symptoms through an understanding of how it fits in with human immunology.
  • Recognize and understand the related clinical features, history, physical exam findings, diagnosis, and treatment of AR