Evaluating rhinitis: clinical, rhinomanometric, and cytologic assessments.

Allergic rhinitis is a common disease. Its diagnostic accuracy can be improved by quantifiable methods, such as scoring symptoms and signs, rhinomanometry, and the examination of nasal cytologic specimens. These methods are fast, easy to use, and well tolerated by patients. The same methods can also be used to follow changes as they occur with treatment. For example, improvements can be documented in patients with allergic rhinitis receiving topical corticosteroids, including flunisolide. Flunisolide therapy decreases the symptoms, improves the patency of the nasal airways, and leads to more normal nasal cytologic studies in patients with allergic rhinitis.