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Acute allergic rhinitis

Robin J. Green, Andre van Niekerk, Marinda McDonald, Raymond Friedman, Charles Feldman, Guy Richards, Fatima Mustafa
South African Family Practice | Vol 62, No 1 : Part 4| a5154 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v62i1.5154 | © 2020 Robin J Green, Andre van Niekerk, Marinda McDonald, Raymond Friedman, Charles Feldman, Guy Richards, Fatima Mustafa | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 02 June 2020 | Published: 12 October 2020

About the author(s)

Robin J. Green, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Andre van Niekerk, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; and, Private Practice, Netcare Clinton Clinic, Alberton, South Africa
Marinda McDonald, Private Practice, Blairgowrie, Johannesburg, South Africa
Raymond Friedman, Private Practice, Mediclinic Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa
Charles Feldman, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Guy Richards, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Fatima Mustafa, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis is a common and troubling condition. Basic management of this condition has been well described. However, acute exacerbations of the chronic condition allergic rhinitis are a seldom discussed or described problem despite the fact that even well-controlled patients frequently have exacerbations. This consideration means that a new approach is necessary to define the management of these patients. There are three important events that illustrate the need for a new therapeutic approach:

  • A person who gets a new diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, but has symptoms for many months or years
  • A sufferer of allergic rhinitis who is exposed to an environment that triggers an exacerbation
  • A person who has an exacerbation related to another trigger.

Recognition of triggers and management strategies to correctly use ‘relief’ therapies such as topical nasal decongestants is the key to successful management. In addition, the use of an ‘action plan’, as for asthma, is useful.


Keywords

allergic rhinitis; acute exacerbations; triggers; allergens; topical decongestants; intranasal steroids

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