Allergic rhinitis and asthma: International recommendations available to patients and health professionals in 10 languages

GA²LEN running campaign, “Does rhinitis lead to asthma?” develops the same messages for healthcare professionals and patients, highlighting the importance of the link between rhinitis and asthma. Two brochures – for primary care professionals and patients – are now available in 10 European languages.

“More than 200 papers, published after 2000 have been thoroughly reviewed to update the ARIA guidelines” says Prof. Bousquet, Chairman of ARIA and GA²LEN Vice-President. “Evidence shows a clear relation between rhinitis and asthma but the link may be stronger than we thought. Allergic rhinitis is not only a risk factor for asthma but could a risk factor for asthma exacerbations”.

The GA²LEN campaign “Does rhinitis lead to asthma?” already adapted these messages to primary care professionals and patients. All patients with persistent rhinitis should be evaluated for asthma. As most patients with asthma also suffer from rhinitis, a combined strategy should be used to treat the lower and upper airways, lungs and nose. In any case, patients’ should never consider allergic rhinitis as trivial and rhinitis should always be adequately treated.

Rhinitis and asthma are among the most frequent chronic diseases worldwide. They are often treated by different medical disciplines. However, patients’ conditions are significantly improved by considering nose and lung diseases together in a “united airways perspective”. It is important to adequately diagnose and manage allergic rhinitis to improve patients’ quality of life and decrease the risk of asthma developing or suffering from asthma exacerbations.

Two brochures for patients and primary care professionals are now translated in 10 languages. Brochures in English, Dutch, French, Italian, Macedonian, Polish, Spanish and Catalan, are available on the GA²LEN website www.ga2len.net. The German, Greek and Lithuanian versions will soon follow.