The incidence of allergic respiratory diseases is increasing, and the number of the affected patients seen by family physicians in their everyday practice is growing. Acute respiratory diseases, the most frequent reason for the patients to visit their family physician, can have a clinical presentation very similar to allergic diseases of the respiratory tract. Although the cause and treatment are different, the symptoms are the same or similar, creating a differential diagnostic dilemma. Allergic rhinitis and asthma are basically the same disorder. Since recently, the pooling of knowledge and approachs to the respiratory allergic diseases has had practical benefits for physicians working in family medicine. The treatment plan for patients with allergic diseases involves a partnership relationship with the patient and aims at reducing symptoms that disrupt the patient’s daily life and limit his or her regular activities. It includes the patient’s training, assessment of the patient’s condition, treatment and disease control and follow-up of the treatment results. The family physician, being in contact with the patient on a daily basis, is in an ideal position for individual care planning. 

Key words:
asthma; family practice; hypersensitivity; respiratory disorders; rhinitis, allergic, seasonal