RCP: New allergy guideline for the secondary care of patients with allergic and non-allergic rhinitis

Wednesday, 30 January 2008 12:00 AM

The British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology has prepared a guideline for the management of allergic and non-allergic rhinitis for practising physicians in secondary care. Allergic rhinitis affects over 20% of the UK population and has significant impact on quality of life.

Importantly both, allergic and non-allergic rhinitis, are risk factors for the development of asthma.

Included in the guideline are: clinical classification, aetiology, diagnosis, investigations, treatment guidance with sections on children and rhinitis in pregnancy. An additional section discusses the link between rhinitis and asthma. The guideline is evidence-based and the recommendations are evidence graded.

A further guideline on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis is in press and will appear in print in a following issue of Clinical and Experimental Allergy which is the official journal of the BSACI.

Dr Shuaib Nasser, Chair of the BSACI, Standards of Care Committee and responsible for the preparation of the guideline said, "This guideline is intended for use by adult physicians and paediatricians practising allergy". This is a totally revised guideline on allergic and non-allergic rhinitis produced by the BSACI Standards of Care Committee in consultation with BSACI members and replaces the previous rhinitis management guideline by the BSACI.

The guideline will be published in the January, 2008 issue of Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 38:1, 19-42.

NOTES TO EDITORS: The core aim of the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI) is to improve the management of allergic and related diseases in the United Kingdom.

For more information or to arrange an interview: Contact: Fiona Rayner
0207 404 0278 or mobile: 07814 876577

BSACI website address: http://www.bsaci.org/

Authors: GK Scadding; SR Durham; R Mirakian; NS Jones; SC Leech; S Farooque; D Ryan; SM Walker; AT Clark; TA Dixon; SRA Jolles; N Siddique; P Cullinan; PH Howarth and SM Nasser.

Members of the BSACI may download the guidelines from the BSACI members only webpage under 'Guidelines' or via the journal website at Clinical and Experimental Allergy, which is the official journal of the BSACI and access to the Journal is just one benefit of becoming a BSACI member.
More details of membership can be found on the society website.

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