Desktop Helper No. 20 - A practical guide to improve rhinitis management in primary care
This resource is available online and as a PDF. Click the links below to access the two versions of this resource:
Click here for the online version | Click here for the PDF version
Accurate diagnosis of rhinitis is crucial as underdiagnosis and misclassification lead to ineffective treatment, unnecessary costs and impaired quality of life (see Desktop Helper No.19). Rhinitis is broadly classified into allergic (AR): IgE-mediated, triggered by allergens such as pollen/dust mites; non-allergic (NAR): not triggered by allergens, e.g., vasomotor, drug-induced, or infectious; and mixed phenotypes. The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines emphasise the unified airway link between AR and asthma, advocating for:
- Phenotype-driven management (intermittent or persistent; mild or moderate-severe)
- Combined pharmacotherapy (for moderate- severe cases)
- Allergen immunotherapy for refractory cases
This desktop helper translates these principles into actionable steps for primary care.
References: available here
Authors: Dermot Ryan, Jaime Correia de Sousa, Olga Lourenço, Björn Stridh, Stephanie Dramburg, Monsur Habib, Sarah Ben Hamida, Luís Carvalho, Siân Williams
Reviewers: Mário Morais-Almeida, Jean Bousquet
Editor: Ian Wright
Funding: This desktop helper was funded from an educational grant from ALK-Abelló who provided a grant to support the development, typesetting, printing and associated costs but did not contribute to the concept or content of this document.
Date published: November 2025