Recognizing and treating non-infectious rhinitis.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To increase clinicians' familiarity with nonallergic and mixed rhinitis and to differentiate these from allergic rhinitis, thus providing for an accurate diagnosis and facilitating a successful initial treatment program. DATA SOURCES: A Medline search of published journal articles was supplemented with known books and proceedings pertaining to rhinitis. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is significant overlap of symptoms among the three types of rhinitis (i.e., allergic, nonallergic, and mixed), the patient history often contains clues that can aid in establishing a correct diagnosis. The new Patient Rhinitis Screen, a questionnaire developed for use in the primary care arena, facilitates the diagnostic process. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: As the most common condition in the outpatient practice of medicine, rhinitis is frequently treated by primary care practitioners. Recent guidelines for the diagnosis and management of rhinitis suggest that a specific diagnosis of allergic, nonallergic, or mixed rhinitis leads to more effective treatment strategies. The result is successful and efficient care utilizing, as appropriate, broad-based and symptom-specific therapies.