Navigating Respiratory Care During Allergy Season

This May/June issue arrives as pharmacists navigate a particularly complex respiratory season characterized by a surge in patient inquiries regarding coughs, congestion, and fatigue. With symptoms of seasonal allergies, the common cold, flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) frequently overlapping, the pharmacist’s expertise in frontline triage has become a cornerstone of community health.

As patients increasingly seek advice at the pharmacy counter before consulting a physician, the ability to distinguish between an allergic reaction and a viral infection through targeted questioning is essential to ensure proper care and treatment.

In the cover story, Emily M. Ambizas, PharmD, outlines strategies for managing seasonal allergic rhinitis, a condition affecting over 82 million Americans that is frequently misdiagnosed and ineffectively treated. She explains that pharmacists play an integral role by matching products to specific symptom patterns and correcting common administration errors, such as the 60% of patients who use nasal sprays incorrectly.

Keith Loria details how pharmacists are increasingly on the front lines, helping patients distinguish between the overlapping symptoms of COVID-19, RSV, the flu, and seasonal allergies. He highlights that because patients often assume all respiratory symptoms are the same, pharmacists must use targeted questioning about timing and fever to provide accurate triage and OTC recommendations.

Authors Anusha Handa, PharmD candidate; Jana Murry, PharmD, RPh; and Jennifer D. Goldman, PharmD, CDCES, BC-ADM, FCCP, address the persistent health disparities in cardiometabolic disease and the unique position of pharmacists to close these gaps in care. They argue that by screening for social determinants of health and providing patient-centered education, pharmacists can reduce the disproportionate burden of disease faced by marginalized populations.

In our Total Pharmacy feature, Kimberly Rath, PharmD, provides a practical guide for independent pharmacies struggling to manage the approximately 200 active drug shortages currently impacting the US health care system. She offers actionable advice on shifting from reactive to proactive inventory management, including using secondary wholesalers.

This issue underscores the pharmacist's evolving role as a frontline clinician, advocate, and operational leader. Whether managing a seasonal allergy surge or navigating complex diseases, the pharmacy remains a reliable and essential place for community healing.