Abstract :
Background and Objectives: Allergic rhinitis, a global health issue, if left untreated cause serious conditions like asthma, sinusitis or ear infections. Precise identification of allergens is worthwhile since it may lead to improvement in therapy. Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine the common inhalant allergens causing allergy in and around Saharanpur by skin prick test, serum IgE levels, nasal smear eosinphilia and AEC levels.
Materials and Methods: 50 patients diagnosed clinically to have allergic rhinitis were included in the study. Absolute eosinophil count, nasal smear for eosinophils, and total IgE levels (wherever possible) were determined. Skin prick tests using 46 common inhalant allergens were done and results analysed.
Results: Increased absolute eosinophil count, nasal smear positive for eosinophil and raised total IgE levels were found to be present in 56%, 22% and 97% of the patients respectively. Frequency of positive skin prick test response to various group of allergens were — Pollen (80%), Dust (70%), Mite (52%), Insects (50%), Fungi (48%) and Epithelial antigens (20%). Overall, pollen of Parthenium (in 70%) followed by House
dust (in 64%) were found to be the most common offending allergens.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that skin prick test along with serum IgE levels used to identify the causative allergens is useful in the patients of allergic rhinitis.
Keyword :
Allergic rhinitis, Skin prick test, Aeroallergens, Nasal smear eosinophils, IgE.