Stuffy nose, itchy and watery eyes, shortness of breath with wheezing, hives and stomach upsets often translate into allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, urticaria and food allergies. These symptoms present a diagnostic dilemma to practitioners, even when sophisticated immunologic tests are available. Given a good history, however, the most common allergic disorders can be diagnosed and managed by nurse practitioners. In this article, an overview is presented which includes a discussion of four chronic adult allergic problems: rhinitis, asthma, urticaria and food allergies. A review of basic immunological principles is provided. Each condition is described in terms of data collection and assessment criteria. General client education guidelines follow.