OBJECTIVES:The perceptions of patients and physicians regarding the symptoms and impact of allergic rhinitis (AR) were assessed in a prospective, international, cross-sectional survey using a convenience sample of consulting patients. We present the combined survey results from Germany, France, Italy, Spain and UK. METHODS: Data were recorded by 1482 patients and matched with records completed by primary care physicians and specialists. Diagnostic tests to confirm AR had been performed on 1279 (86.3%) patients. Both physicians and patients recorded the presence, severity and impact of symptoms. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed, RESULTS: A large proportion of patients had moderate–severe disease (67.2%; n =996), persistent disease (42.5%; n= 630) and co-morbidities such as asthma (31.5%; n = 467). Patients generally rated their disease as more severe than did their physicians (P <0.001). At the time of the consultation, one-third of all patients reported that their current nasal and ocular symptoms were moderate or severe in nature. According to the physicians’ assessment, good control of nasal and ocular symptoms was achieved in 45.4% (n = 673) and 51.3% (n = 760) of patients, respectively. Overall, 43.3% (n = 641) of those surveyed were using two or more medicines for their AR. HRQoL was correlated with disease severity and with the number of days without symptoms in the previous 4 weeks. AR had a significantly greater impact in patients with more persistent disease than in those with intermittent disease (2.3 ± 1.3 vs. 1.9 ± 1.2; P <0.001). Nonetheless, 81.8% (n = 601) of patients with intermittent disease reported some impairment of their daily life as a result of their AR, CONCLUSIONS: AR remains a significant health problem because of the high burden of symptoms and its impact on general well being and HRQoL.