8 Seiiel sake: oN: ext uctied ve‘n vil } “oyPace ma c wee i: ‘Bs a iA, bey fk oS eM “in “a ae icles my ‘comm iAe‘n mrtacg hale ty at] walG uc 08 na on Er: Moe Millions of va=I With Allergy-like Symptoms May Not Have SeasonalAllergies New Screening Tool Helps Distinguish Between Seasonal Allergies and Nonallergic Vasomotor Rhinitis (NAPS)—A new questionnaire developed by a nationally re- nownedallergist and clinical investigator in cooperation with Wallace Laboratories may help millions of Americans find out whether their nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and/or postnasal drip are the result of seasonalallergies or a condition called nonallergic vasomotorrhinitis. While these symptoms typically are associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis, they actually maybeattributable to nonallergic vasomotorrhinitis. This condition can be triggered by exposure to strong odors such as perfumes, automotive exhaust fumes and paint fumes, to changes in tem- perature and humidity, and even to ingestants such as spicy foods or alcoholic beverages. “Becauseof similarities in symptoms, nonallergic vasomotor rhini- tis can be very difficult to distin- guish from allergic rhinitis, and manyhealth professionals aren’t as attuned to nonallergic vasomotor rhinitis as they are to allergic rhinitis,” according to Phillip Lieberman, MD,a practicing aller- gist and clinical investigator, who is Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunol- 54 QUESTO! tion and sneezing,” this resident of Memphis explains. “People aren’t terribly sympathetic. They just say, ‘Oh, you're sick again; it seems like you're alwayssick.” A new screening tool, a one- page questionnaire developed by Dr. Lieberman, in cooperation with Wallace Laboratories, can help determinethe typeof rhinitis a patient has. The questionnaire helps patients and physicians identify the triggers of the patient’s “allergy-like” symptoms, so that avoidance and/or a more effective treatment can be chosen. Patients should consult their physicians to help determine whether they suffer from seasonal allergic rhinitis, nonallergic vaso- motorrhinitis, or a combination of ogy, University of Tennessee. “The same wayyou or I would feel on the third day of a cold is how these people feel every day.” Recently published data indicate that more than 50 percent actually suffer from a nonallergic rhinitis component. " This informa- both. Although second-generation oral and a peer-reviewed medical journal, revealed higher than previ- in clinical studies to be effective in treating both seasonal allergic rhi- tion, published in a medical text ously believed incidences of nonallergic rhinitis and mixed rhinitis antihistamines, such as Allegra, Claritin or Zyrtec, are not FDA- approved for the treatment of non- allergic vasomotorrhinitis, Astelin (azelastine HCl) Nasal Spray, 137 mcg, a nasal antihistamine with unique properties, has been shown nitis and nonallergic vasomotor (that is, coexisting allergic rhinitis rhinitis. ASTELIN Nasal Spray is ap- higher incidences are significant because these conditions are Administration for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis and for and nonallergic rhinitis). The treated somewhatdifferently from allergic rhinitis. Typically, allergic rhinitis patients are given a second-gener- ation oral antihistamineto relieve their symptoms such as runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, and sneezing. However, these medications are not indicated for nonallergic vasomotorrhinitis. Like manyrhinitis sufferers, Michelle suffers from a combina- tion of allergic and nonallergic rhinitis symptoms. “It feels like I have a cold every day with conges- proved by the U.S. Food and Drug the treatment of nonallergic vasomotorrhinitis. For more information about Astelin Nasal Spray, see the full prescribing information for the product. For additional copies of the Patient Rhinitis Questionnaire, please visit www.aboutrhinitis.com or write to Wallace Laboratories at Half Acre Road, PO Box 1001, Cranbury, NJ 08512-0181. ' Settipane RA, Settipane GA. “Nonallergic Rhinitis.” In: Kaliner MA, Ed. Current Review of Allergic Diseases. Philadelphia, PA:Current Medicine;2000:111.
