MedED @ The Allergy Clinic

Allergic Rhinitis: When Seasonal Turns Perennial - What Every Pharmacist Should Know

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Short course

Course type

1 hr

Study time

Online

Mode of learning

1 CPD point

1 Clinical
(70% average required)

Course overview

Allergic rhinitis affects 10–40% of the population and significantly impacts daily functioning, sleep, school and work performance. Many patients misinterpret their symptoms as repeated “colds,” leading to inappropriate self-treatment and unnecessary antibiotic use. Pharmacists are ideally positioned as the first point of contact to identify allergic rhinitis, assess severity, guide appropriate therapy, and recognise red flags for referral.


This course provides pharmacists with a practical, structured approach to diagnosing and managing allergic rhinitis in the pharmacy environment. It covers key symptom patterns, seasonal vs perennial triggers, the impact of geography in South Africa, asthma overlap, and how to use validated tools such as the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Treatment principles include correct intranasal spray technique, rational antihistamine use, and when to step up to combination intranasal therapy.

By the end of the module, pharmacists will be equipped to confidently differentiate allergic rhinitis from infection, counsel patients on evidence-based treatments, optimise symptom control, and know when specialist referral is warranted.
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Who is this course for?

South African Pharmacists, Pharmacist Assistants and Pharmacy Interns

Required qualification

Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm)
Pharmacist Assistant (Basic)
Pharmacist Assistant (Post-Basic)
Pharmacy Interns

Course level

Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. 

Develop your professional skills

Why choose this course?

This course gives pharmacists and pharmacist assistants a practical, structured approach to recognising and managing allergic rhinitis at the pharmacy counter. You will learn how to differentiate allergy from infection, assess severity using validated tools, recommend appropriate evidence-based treatments, and identify when referral is needed. The module is designed to build confidence, improve clinical decision-making, and support better outcomes for patients seeking help with nasal and allergy-related symptoms.

About the training initiative

MedEd @ The Allergy Clinic was founded by Dr Marinda McDonald and Natalie Heydenrych, who first met while working at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital. Dr McDonald dedicated her time pro bono to help establish and run the hospital’s allergy clinic, where the two discovered a shared passion for improving education and clinical practice in allergy and nutrition.


United by this commitment, they created MedEd @ The Allergy Clinic as an academic platform dedicated to delivering high-quality, practical education for healthcare professionals. The institution aims to bridge knowledge gaps, strengthen clinical skills, and support evidence-based practice through structured training, short courses, and collaborative learning opportunities.

Doctor Marinda McDonald
______
Natalie Heydenrych

25 years in practice
______
16 years in practice

65 Conrad Dr, Blairgowrie, Randburg, 2194

Institution contact info

   meded.theallergyclinic@gmail.com
   084 446 1151

Follow MedED @ The Allergy Clinic on social media

Course Lessons

  • Certificate included

    Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a certificate of completion from MedED & The Allergy Clinic, a name synonymous with excellence in professional growth.

Course development team

Dr. Marinda McDonald 
Founder of the Initiative & Lead Clinical Author

Dr. Marinda McDonald is a medical doctor with a special interest in allergy care. She earned her MBChB from the University of Pretoria in 1998 and later completed a Diploma in Allergies (2004) through the College of Medicine of South Africa and a Certificate in Allergy (2014) from the University of Southampton.

She is the founder of The Allergy Clinic, where she offers a wide range of diagnostic and treatment services, including immunotherapy and food challenges. Dr. McDonald is also the chairperson of the Rhinitis Interest group of the Allergy Society of South Africa, an examiner for the CMSA Diploma in Allergology.
Outside of medicine, she enjoys outdoor activities and values time with her family do. Dr. McDonald is committed to delivering world-class allergy care and advancing the field through collaboration and education.
Natalie Heydenrych
Editor & Content Developer
Natalie is a registered dietitian who obtained her BSc (Dietetics) degree from the University of the Free State in 2008. She has a strong interest in paediatrics and brings 16 years of clinical experience across several government hospitals in South Africa. She began her career with community service at Boitumelo Hospital in Kroonstad, followed by five years at Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha, where her passion for paediatrics first emerged. She then spent the next decade at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Johannesburg, gaining extensive experience in managing children with a wide range of nutritional needs, from common conditions to complex medical cases.

Her special interests include allergies, malnutrition, and feeding difficulties such as gastrostomy feeding. Natalie also completed a Master’s degree focusing on refeeding syndrome in severe acute malnutrition, an area she remains deeply committed to through ongoing clinical, academic, and educational work.

Course developer 

Dr. Marinda McDonald 

Dr. Marinda McDonald is a South African medical doctor with a focused expertise in allergology. She completed her medical degree (MBChB) at the University of Pretoria in 1998 and began her career in general practice following her community service. Her clinical interest in allergic diseases led her to pursue advanced training in allergy, obtaining a Diploma in Allergies from the College of Medicine of South Africa in 2004 and a Certificate in Allergy from the University of Southampton in 2014.

Dr. McDonald is the founder and director of The Allergy Clinic, a dedicated centre offering specialized services such as diagnostic food and drug challenges, immunotherapy for environmental and venom allergens, and oral immunotherapy for food allergies including peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, and fish. The clinic is recognized for its comprehensive and evidence-based approach to allergy management.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. McDonald plays an active role in professional development and leadership within the field. She is the elected chairperson of the Rhinitis interst group as well as an EXCO member of Allergy Society of South Africa (ALLSA) and serves as an examiner for the Diploma in Allergology at the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA). She is also a member of the advisory board for EUFOREA, a European organization dedicated to respiratory and allergic disease care and education.

Dr. McDonald contributes regularly to public and professional education through media appearances, lectures, and industry events. Her practice is guided by a commitment to clinical excellence, continuous professional development, and the advancement of allergy care through collaboration and innovation.

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Sponsorship

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Student testimonials

This is the best learning platform I found so far. I was pleasantly surprised with the possibilities.
- Josh Stobbard
This is the best learning platform I found so far. I was pleasantly surprised with the possibilities.
- Josh Stobbard
This is the best learning platform I found so far. I was pleasantly surprised with the possibilities.
- Josh Stobbard
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