An overview of adult allergic disorders

Stuffy nose, itchy and watery eyes, shortness of breath with wheezing, hives and stomach upsets often translate into allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, urticaria and food allergies. These symptoms present a diagnostic dilemma to practitioners, even when sophisticated immunologic tests are available. Given a good history, however, the most common allergic disorders can be diagnosed and managed by nurse practitioners. In this article, an overview is presented which includes a discussion of four chronic adult allergic problems: rhinitis, asthma, urticaria and food allergies. A review of basic immunological principles is provided. Each condition is described in terms of data collection and assessment criteria. General client education guidelines follow.