Allergic conditions: key points

• Allergic mechanisms contribute to a large number of different diseases and have both acute and chronic effects.
• Diseases with an allergic basis include allergic rhinitis, asthma, food intolerance and reactions to drugs and to wasp and bee stings.
• Most allergic conditions are treated in primary care.
• There is a lack of good quality information on rare but severe conditions such as anaphylaxis.