The impact of allergic rhinitis is enormous; it accounts for significant health morbidity and a large financial expenditure. It can occur at any age, but its peak onset is in childhood. The natural course of this atopic disorder varies, but tends to improve with time. Genetic and environmental factors play a role in its development. There are effective treatments including pharmacotherapy and immunotherapy. Allergen avoidance is difficult, but should be attempted. Future therapies will likely focus on downregulation of the Th2 immune phenotype and possibly upregulation of the Th1 response. Treating this condition is a daunting task; therefore, interventions to prevent atopy are appealing. Future therapies and studies will likely also focus on this issue. (c) 2001 Prous Science. All rights reserved.