There is a clear interrelationship between asthma and allergic rhinitis.  Approximately 10% of all Australians have asthma, and allergic rhinitis occurs in an estimated 75–80% of these asthma patients.  Conversely, 20–30% of patients with known allergic rhinitis also have asthma.

Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis may be confusing and symptoms can easily be mistaken for asthma.  The impact of allergic rhinitis can significantly affect a person’s daily quality of life and when it occurs in conjunction with asthma, can complicate airway symptoms.  Patients with allergic rhinitis severe enough to impair activities or worsen asthma control may need pre-emptive treatment as part of their management plan.  Effective management of asthma and allergic rhinitis requires a combined approach.

This program discusses the evidence for the clinical interrelationship and investigation and appropriate treatment of allergic rhinitis in asthma patients.

After watching this program, participants will be able to:

• Understand the interrelationship between allergic rhinitis and asthma.
• Recognise the symptoms and identify the appropriate allergy tests in order to make the correct diagnosis.
• Identify the role of pharmacological treatments and specific allergen immunotherapy in the long term treatment plan.
• Develop allergy and asthma prevention strategies and appropriate written action plans.

- Chair: Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National.
- Associate Professor Connie Katelaris, Senior Consultant, Allergy and Immunology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney.
- Associate Professor Frank Thien, Adult Respiratory and Allergy Physician, Alfred Hospital, Victoria.
- Mr Peter Holder, Community Pharmacist, ACT.
- Associate Professor Ian Charlton, General Practitioner, Kincumber NSW.
- Click here for more details about the presenters.

68 minutes.

This program was first broadcast live on the Foundation's satellite network on Tuesday 20 March 2007 and was repeated on Friday 23 March 2007.

This program is accredited for CPD/CPE by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Royal College of Nursing Australia and the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Click here to evaluate this program and earn professional development points.

Visit our resources page for more Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis resources.

National Asthma Council Australia, with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health & Ageing.

- 815 Breathlessness in the Older Adult: Is It Asthma?
- 810 Balancing the Benefits: Asthma and Combination Therapy Update
- 720 Taking a Breather: Asthma Management for Indigenous Australians
- 503 Asthma and Combination Therapy: Getting the Balance Right
- 316 Breathing Easy: Respiratory Disease in Indigenous Children
- 310 Asthma 3+ Visit Plan
- 306 New Directions in Paediatric Asthma Management
- 113 Asthma in the Older Person: A Coordinated Approach