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Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate adult patients in general practice suspected of having rhinitis. Materials and methods: A total of 72 patients suspected of having rhinitis underwent a secondary specialist investigation, resulting in 55 final specialist diagnoses of rhinitis. Through interviews of patients and a questionnaire mailed to the primary physician, information on diagnostic strategy, final diagnosis, suggested treatments and patients' knowledge about rhinitis were determined. Results: One third of the 72 patients examined for possible rhinitis would have benefited from a supplementary specialist examination, where one group was made up of patients with negative allergy tests and chronic symptoms of either non-rhinitis disease or vasomotoric rhinitis and the other group was made up of patients with severe seasonal allergic rhinitis, who would benefit from immunotherapy. The suggested medical treatments followed modern treatment principles. Of the patients with a final diagnosis of rhinitis, only one third were informed about treatment principles with inhalation steroids, while half of the patients knew about the basic principles of antihistamine treatment. Of 53 patients with rhinitis, 6 were prepared to change medical treatment without first contacting their physician. Conclusion: Patients with chronic or recurrent symptoms should be referred to specialists more often, and patients who might benefit from allergen-specific treatment, such as immunotherapy or allergen prevention, should be evaluated by an allergy specialist. Patients with rhinitis should be given more information on disease mechanisms and treatment principles.

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