Aria

Acronym for "Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma". ARIA is a non-governmental organization which, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to inform doctors about the specific management of allergic rhinitis, especially in relation to the development of allergic asthma.

ARIA classifies allergic rhinitis as follows:

• Intermittent (< 4 days/week) or < 4 weeks
• Persistent (>4 days/week) and >4 weeks.
• Mild: normal sleep, no limitation of daily activities, normal work and school life, no symptoms
• Moderate to severe (1 or more points): abnormal sleep, significant restriction of daily activities, starting normal work and school life, symptoms present.

According to ARIA, a subcutaneous/oral specific immunotherapy is indicated in patients,

• which are insufficiently controlled by pharmacotherapy
• whose symptoms cannot be controlled by oral antihistamines or intranasal pharmacotherapy
• who refuse pharmacotherapy
• in which pharmacotherapy produces undesirable side effects
• who do not want permanent pharmacotherapy

1. Bousquet PJ et al (2001) Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma. ARIA workshop report, in collaboration with WHO. J Allergy Clin Immunol 108: Supplement: S147-S333.
2. Bousquet PJ (2007) ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma) classification of allergic rhinitis severity in clinical practice in France. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 143:163-169.