Asthma  Smoking Cessation  COPD  Infectious Diseases  Allergic Rhinitis  Research home page  IPCRG home page

Research Needs: Allergic Rhinitis References Introduction Summary Symptom based tool Skin-prick testing ARIA classification Asthma and rhinitis Immunotherapy Systemic steroids Avoidance and identification Diagnosis: Validation of symptom based tool for diagnosis in primary care International guidelines2 suggest a combination of symptoms, physical examination and allergy testing as useful in making a diagnosis of rhinitis. The recently published ARIA pharmacy guidelines suggest that a pattern of symptoms that make a diagnosis likely.3 However no formal validation of a symptom based tool other than a population designed instrument has been undertaken.4 It would be very valuable to have a short validated symptom based instrument to assist in diagnosis in primary care. The suggested symptoms from the pharmacy guidelines might form the basis of this.