- Sciences & innovation
- The respiratory allergens
- Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis was previously classified as seasonal or perennial rhinitis.
Seasonal allergic rhinitis should be considered if the symptoms have appears at the same time of the year for at least two years running.
Eye problems such as conjunctivitis are often associated with seasonal rhinitis, and more than half of the patients experience asthmatic symptoms during the pollen season
In contrast, the symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis are present throughout the year. If the rhinitis acute in the morning on waking in the Autumn months, house dust mites are the most likely guilty allergen; in other circumstances, contact with a pet (a cat or a dog) is the most common cause.
Classification of allergic rhinitis
The classification of allergic rhinitis is based on the 2001 ARIA Consensus position (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma)[1]. It takes into account both the symptoms of the disease and quality of life. Based on chronology and severity, this system distinction between “intermittent” and “persistent” disease and between “mild” or “moderate to severe” disease:
Several surveys have been conducted in France in order to evaluate the breakdown of allergic rhinitis using to the ARIA criteria.
- The ERASM[2] survey was conducted on more than 3.000 adult patients consulting 1.321 general practitioners for seasonal allergic rhinitis. The results showed that the symptoms lasted 6 days per week and 12 weeks per year on average.
- The ECRIN[3] study conducted in 2001 on 4.000 patients recruited by 3.200 general practitioners revealed that 52.1% of the patients were suffering from persistent rhinitis and 47.9% from an intermittent form.
- Lastly, the ERAP[4] study on perennial allergic rhinitis conducted in 1.346 doctors (including 689 general practitioners) showed that the mean duration of symptoms was 6 days per week and 9 consecutive weeks per year on average. In addition to ENT symptoms, patients also experienced conjunctivitis (36.7%), cough (31.9%) and perturbed sleep (35.2%).
