ALLERGY
Unpicking allergic rhinitis in adults and children
Allergic rhinitis (AR) can be defined as a symptomatic disorder of the nose, induced after allergen exposure and followed by an IgE-mediated inflammation of the nasal membranes. With a global prevalence estimated to be 40%, this common and expensive chronic condition often remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Children as young as two years can be affected by AR, and its prevalence increases by approximately 2% per life-year. AR has a significant impact on quality of life and efficacy at work and school. Notably, 80-90% of asthma patients have AR, and 35-40% of AR patients have asthma.
You will learn:
- An understanding of the risk factors for allergic rhinitis (AR) and the pathophysiology and clinical presentation thereof.
- An approach to the diagnosis of AR in primary care practice and awareness of current classification of AR endotypes and phenotypes.
- An approach to pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of AR including patient education, allergen avoidance and treatment recommendations for South African primary care practice.
Dr Janet van der Walt
Allergologist & Family Physician, Allergy and Immunology Unit
University of Cape Town Lung Institute
Dr Janet van der Walt completed her 2 year Fellowship training in Allergology and Clinical Immunology at Groote Schuur and Red Cross War Memorial Hospitals. She is an experienced Family Physician and obtained registration as a specialist in this field in South Africa and also in Canada. She obtained her MFamMed at the University of the Free State and her undergraduate training at the University of Stellenbosch. Janet is a member of the Allergy Association of South Africa.
Dr Pieter de Waal
Allergologist & Paediatrician, Mediclinic Panorama Hospital
Cape Town
Dr Pieter de Waal qualified as a Paediatrician in 2009 at the University of the Free State. In 2017, he obtained the South African Certificate in Asthma Care (NAEP) and in 2018, he obtained his Diploma in Allergology from the College of Family Physicians of South Africa. He qualified as a certified Allergologist at the University of Cape Town in 2018 and obtained his M.Phil. degree in Allergology in 2019. He worked as a full-time subspecialist in Allergology at MediClinic, Bloemfontein and held a part-time post as a senior consultant at the University of the Free State, where he taught Allergology, Asthma and Pulmonology to both under and post graduate medical students and registrars. He is also part of the South African National Asthma Education Programme (NAEP) and Allergy Society of South Africa (ALLSA) executive committees. He currently works in private practice at MediClinic, Panorama Hospital, Cape Town.
