ARIA is a group of experts working in collaboration with the WHO. The purpose and mission of ARIA is to educate doctors regarding the specific management of allergic rhinitis, taking into account its impact on asthma

In 2001, ARIA published a guide taking up the key points of these works. This Consensus is currently being re-updated. 

ARIA gives value to the therapeutic strategies for treating allergic rhinitis and asthma whose efficacy has been clinically demonstrated in accordance with good practices (double blind and placebo-controlled).

ARIA redefines allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma: the Consensus emphasizes the close links between asthma and rhinitis, explaining that the treatment - in order to be effective - should target both the upper (rhinitis) and lower (asthma) respiratory tract.

ARIA repeats the indications for desensitisation therapy: in the therapeutic armamentarium, ARIA gives priority of place to desensitisation therapy, which is the only treatment capable of changing the natural course of the allergic disease.

This treatment is indicated when:

• Control with symptomatic treatment is inadequate
• Symptoms are not controlled by oral antihistamines and treatments for nasal use
• The patient does not want to receive symptomatic treatment
• Undesirable effects may be attributed to symptomatic treatment

 
ARIA positions sublingual desensitisation therapy in the therapeutic armamentarium: the indications are identical to those for desensitisation by subcutaneous injection and also includes patients experiencing side effects to injections or who refuse injections in general.

Recognizing the efficacy of this route of administration, ARIA recommends that the desensitisation therapies by sublingual administration should be given at high doses, at least 100 times greater than the doses recommended for desensitisation therapy via subcutaneous injection.

 
See the Guide: "Management of Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma" [pdf, 107 k] drawn up based on the ARIA consensus.