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[How to manage allergic rhinitis in current practice]
Insights
Allergic rhinitis, a common condition, is often underdiagnosed due to self-medication. Diagnosis involves skin prick tests, and treatment includes antihistamines, nasal steroids, and allergen avoidance for effective management.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Otolaryngology
Context:
- Allergic rhinitis is a prevalent condition with potentially underestimated consequences.
- A significant number of patients self-medicate, complicating accurate assessment.
- Clinical history is a key diagnostic indicator.
Purpose:
- To outline the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for allergic rhinitis.
- To emphasize the importance of allergen identification and avoidance.
Summary:
- Etiological diagnosis is effectively achieved through cutaneous Prick Tests, known for high sensitivity and specificity, suitable even for pediatric patients.
- Treatment strategies involve oral antihistamines and topical steroid sprays, timed with allergen exposure.
- Allergen avoidance is the cornerstone of successful treatment, preventing or mitigating complications.
Impact:
- Effective management of allergic rhinitis can prevent secondary complications or reduce their severity.
- Specific immunotherapy presents a viable treatment option, aligning with global health recommendations.
Abstract:
The allergic rhinitis is a very frequent condition. Its consequences are probably underestimated because of the large number of self-medicated patients. The clinical history is often telling. Etiological diagnosis is based on cutaneous Prick-Tests, which have a high sensibility and specificity-rate and which can be easily applied to young children. The treatment relies on the use of oral anti-histamines and local steroid sprays, for a period of time covering the exposure to allergens. In all the cases, the avoidance of the allergen constitutes the decisive element to determine the efficiency of the treatment. The starting up of a treatment prevents the outbreak of complications or enables to decrease their strength. Specific immunotherapy may be considered according to the last OMS consensus statement.