VARIATON AND SYMPTOMATIC CORRELATION OF ALLERGEN PROFILE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLERGIC RHINITIS
1Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, KBB Anabilim Dalı, Isparta, Türkiye2Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, İç Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, Isparta, Türkiye Purpose: To investigate correlation of symptoms with test results, possible alterations of responsible allergen frequency, and allergen distribution of allergic rhinitis patients in Isparta.
Materials and Methods: Tests results and symptoms of 554 cases with provisional diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, admitted to our clinic between May 2000 and January 2006, were evaluated. In addition, the results were compared with the results previously carried in our clinic before April 2000.
Results: Of 554 cases, 455 (82 %) had positive skin tests. Of these, 249 were male, 305 were female, age range was 4-72 years and mean age was 28.0 ± 13.1 years. Skin test positivity was 88 % and 78 % for male and female cases respectively. Among the cases with positive skin tests 342 had seasonal (75.2 %) and 113 (24.8 %) had perennial allergic rhinitis. The most frequently encountered allergens were as follows: grass mixture (%70.5) weed mixture (%45.9), mites (%35.6 - 34.9), tree mixture (%25.2). Comparison of these results with previous study demonstrated that tree mix decreased and mites increased.
Conclusions: The frequency of allergens responsible for allergic rhinitis may vary throughout years. The reason of this may be hospital admittance of different patient population, not changing allergens. The most valuable complaint showing test positivity was wheezing and the least valuable one was cough. By evaluating the test results, new allergen profiles should be prepared for every region at least in every 5 years.
Keywords : Allergy, skin tests, etiology, seasonal allergic rhinitis, perennial allergic rhinitis