Progress in the drug management of allergic rhinitis

The diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is based on the case history, rhinoscopy and allergy testing. Therapy consists of allergen avoidance, pharmacotherapy, immunotherapy and/or surgery. This review deals only with pharmacotherapy, since there has been significant progress in this area. The first advance was the introduction of topical nasal steroids in the mid-1970s and the second the introduction of the second generation of H1 antihistamines in the early 1980s. The task for future developments is to optimize therapy by rational and combined use of available drugs, especially the steroid sprays and non-sedating antihistamines. A systematic approach to the choice of drug for the treatment of rhinitis is presented.