Girish Fakirappa Hongal 1 , Srikanth Ravoori
BACKGROUND Allergic rhinitis is characterised by an IgE-mediated inflammatory response of nasal mucosa to allergens and it has a close association with bronchial asthma. It has been observed that persons having nasal allergy has a strong risk of developing bronchial asthma in adults. Usually, patients suffering from allergic rhinitis will have impaired FEV1 (n forced expiratory volume at timed interval of 1s and FEF25-75% forced expiratory flow). Early bronchial impairment in nasal allergy can be evidenced by a reliable marker, i.e. FEF25-75%. Hence, nasal allergy can become a first step in the progression of respiratory allergy towards asthma. It has been noted that FEF25-75% is useful in predicting the airway hyperresponsiveness. Compared to FEV1, FEF25-75% is more sensitive indicator of chronic airway obstruction. In ARIA guidelines, it has been clearly stated the role of allergic rhinitis as a risk factor for development of bronchial asthma. Spirometric abnormalities in patients with nasal allergy is well documented. Hence, the present study has been undertaken to evaluate the impairment of spirometric parameters, especially FEV1, FEF25- 75% and forced vital capacity in patients with nasal allergy. MATERIALS AND METHODS It is a prospective study carried out on 200 patients suffering from allergic rhinitis attending ENT Outpatient Department and in each case the clinical diagnosis of nasal allergy is made on the basis of characteristic history and clinical findings on complete ENT examination. RESULTS In this study, 112 (56%) are males and 88 (44%) are females; male:female ratio being 1.27:1. The age ranges from 12 to 49 years. Majority 35% of cases are between 11 to 30 years, followed by 27% cases in the group of 31 to 40 years, 15% cases is the least in the group of 41 to 50 years. CONCLUSION Allergic rhinitis frequently present bronchial hyperresponsiveness even in the absence of asthmatic symptoms. Hence, nasal allergy and asthma can be considered as components of a single syndrome involving two parts of the respiratory tract and from previous studies, it is evident that these two disorders affect each other.
