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Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of asthma and allergic diseases in school children and adolescents in Adıyaman, Turkey. Material and Methods: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire was completed online by parents of 280 children aged 6-7 years and 163 adolescents aged 13-14 years living in Adıyaman. Additional questions were added to the online survey to determine the prevalence of food and drug allergies. Results: The prevalence of allergic diseases in the 6-7 and 13-14 age groups were as follows: 23.2% and 18.4% for asthma, 21.4% and 18.4% for allergic rhinitis, 11.4% and 11% for eczema, 10.4% and 8.6% for food allergy, and 8.6% and 3.7% for drug allergy. In the 6-7-year age group, male sex was associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis; cesarean delivery with drug allergy; and fewer siblings with atopic eczema and drug allergy. In the 13-14-year age group, having pets and more siblings were associated with eczema and food allergy, respectively. Conclusion: This is the first study that demonstrated the prevalence of allergic diseases in Adıyaman province and showed that the overall prevalence of allergic diseases is high in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Detection of the allergens in patients diagnosed with asthma and allergic rhinitis enables them to take environmental precautions in addition to receiving medical treatments, for full control of symptoms. We aimed to evaluate the distribution of aeroallergen sensitivity in skin prick tests (SPT) of children living in the Elazığ and Malatya regions and diagnosed with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis. Materials and Method: Patients who were diagnosed with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis and applied SPT between January 2022 and June 2022 were included. Demographic characteristics, diagnoses, disease severity and control level, laboratory values, and aeroallergen sensitivities in the SPT were recorded retrospectively. Results: Sensitivity to at least one aeroallergen was detected in 229 (57%) of 401 patients who underwent SPT with the diagnosis of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis. Additionally, 41.5% of the patients with aeroallergen sensitivity were found to be sensitive to more than one aeroallergen. The median age of patients with aeroallergen sensitivity was 6 years (4-9.5), and 132 (57.6%) of them were girls. Allergic rhinitis was diagnosed in 161 (70.3%) patients, asthma+allergic rhinitis in 41 (17.9%), and asthma in 27 (11.8%) patients. Patients were most sensitive to the fungal mixture (41.5%), followed by the grass-pollen mixture (36.7%) and house dust mites (31%). House dust mite susceptibility was found most frequently (48.1%) in patients with asthma. Among the asthmatic patients, monosensitization was higher in those with uncontrolled asthma (p=0.04). Conclusion: The data obtained from our study may contribute to the application of allergen protection methods and treatment in children with asthma and allergic rhinitis living in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ege Journal of Medicine is the property of Ege University, Faculty of Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Rhinolith is a rare nasal foreign body formed by the progressive deposition of calcium and magnesium salts on the exogenous or endogenous nidus. Sinonasal inflammatory disorders like sinusitis and chronic vestibulitis are frequently identified endogenous cause. In contrast, rhinolith formation is rarely reported to be associated with allergic rhinitis, despite it is a common disease globally. Unilateral nasal obstruction and purulent nasal discharge are among the most common presentation. We present a case of huge rhinolith in a teenage girl with underlying moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis, presented with epistaxis and worsening nasal obstruction. It was successful removed in the clinic after application of topical anesthesia and decongestant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amaç: Alerjik rinit toplumda sık görülen ve poliklinik muayenesi ile sık tanı konulan hastalıklardan biridir. Bu araştırmada hastaneye başvurup alerjik rinit tanısı alanlarda deri prick testi yapılma sıklığı ve buna etki eden faktörlerin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç-Yöntem: Araştırma Sakarya Üniversitesi Eğitim Araştırma Hastanesine 2018 ve 2019 yıllarında başvurup J30 (Vazomotor ve Alerjik Rinit) ve alt tanı kodlarını (J30.0, J30.1, J30.2, J30.3, J30.4) alan kişilerin muayene kayıtlarının geçmişe yönelik taranmasıyla yapılmıştır. Toplam 8496 muayene kaydı incelenmiştir. Bulgular: Alerjik rinit tanısı alanların %55,5’i kadındır. İncelenenlerin %25,8’i 0-17 yaş arası, %67,8’i 18-64 yaş arası, %6,4’ü 65 yaş üstüdür. İncelenenlerin %77,6’sının alerjik rinit tanısıyla bu 2 yıl içerisinde tek başvurusu olmuştur. Başvuranların %11,5’ine deri prick testi yapılmıştır. Prick testi yapılanların %64,4’ünde en az bir alerjene karşı pozitif sonuç saptanmıştır. Yapılan Ki-kare analizlerine göre 18 yaş altında olanlara, kadın cinsiyete, başvuru sayısı birden fazla olanlara deri prick testi yapılma sıklığı artmaktadır. Sonuç: Alerjik rinit tanısı alanların çoğunda semptomatik tedavi uygulanmakta ve etiyolojiyi aydınlatmaya yönelik işlemler yapılmamaktadır. Daha çok çocuk yaş grubunda ebeveynlerin kaygılarıyla etiyolojinin aydınlatılmasına yönelik işlemlerin yapıldığı düşünülmektedir. Alerjik rinit tanısı alanlarda deri prick testi yapılmasının hekimlere rehber olacak şekilde geliştirilmesi klinikler arası farklılıkların ortadan kaldırılması yerinde olacaktır.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of fungal allergen sensitivities and the factors associated with fungal allergen sensitivities in children with allergic rhinitis. Method: 331 children aged 2-18 years who were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis and had sensitivity to at least one inhalant allergen in skin prick tests were prospectively included in the study. The skin prick test was performed with standard allergen solutions. Results: 62.5% of the patients with allergic rhinitis were boys and 37.5% were girls, and the onset of symptoms was 6.77±4.06 years old. Mite sensitivity (68.8%) was the most common in children with allergic rhinitis, followed by grass pollen sensitivity (48.9%). Sensitivity to at least one fungal allergen was detected at a rate of 10.6% (n=35), the most common among this group being Alternaria alternata (88.5%). The age of onset of allergic rhinitis symptoms was found to be significantly earlier in the group with fungal allergen sensitivity compared to the group without fungal allergen sensitivity (5.23±3.44 years/6.95±4.09 years, respectively, p=0.019). For the presence of sensitivity to fungal allergens; Corylus avellena sensitivity or dog allergen sensitivity were found to be significant risk factors. In terms of additional asthma in patients with allergic rhinitis; Dermatophagoides farinae sensitivity or presence of cockroach sensitivity were found to be significant risk factors. Conclusion: Sensitivity to fungal allergens is observed at a remarkable rate in children with allergic rhinitis. Most of the sensitivity to fungal allergens is Alternaria alternata sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Namık Kemal Tıp Dergisi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background/Aims: Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is a common disorder that negatively effects the quality of life with symptoms due to the inflammation of nasal epithelium. Objective of this study is to determine the general demographical and clinical features of patients with AR, who had positive skin prick test (SPT) results. Methods: Patients diagnosed as AR with positive SPT results were analyzed. The allergens tested were: grasses, cereals+grasses , trees 1 (early flowering), trees 2 (late flowering), house-dust mites ( Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP), Dermatophagoides farinae (DF), tyrophagus putrescentiae (TP), lepidoglyphus destructor (LD) and acarus siro (AS). Results: Of the total 202 patients, 145 female (with a mean age of 32.42 ±12.81 years) and 57 male (with a mean age of 28.44 ± 11.5 years) were included in the study. The most common allergens determined were; DF, DP, cereals+grasses and grasses. Tyrophagus significantly was more common in females (p:0.04). Nasal discharge, dyspnea, itching and weakness-tiredness were reported to be more common in females compared with males. DF, DP, TP and LD were statistically significantly more common in housewives (p lt;0.05). Dyspnea, wheezing and itching were statistically significantly more common in housewives (p lt;0.05).Conclusions: Housewives are risky occupational group for the development of allergic rhinitis due to house dust mites

Copyright of Namık Kemal Tıp Dergisi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The evaluation of real-life integrated care pathways (ICPs) was recommended for digitally enabled, integrated, person-centered care for rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity embedding environmental exposure. ICPs are structured multidisciplinary care plans detailing key steps of patient care. They promote the translation of guideline recommendations into local protocols and their application to clinical practice. In allergic rhinitis, there is an urgent need to develop next-generation guidelines for pharmacotherapy and ICPs for allergen immunotherapy. A meeting was held in Paris on December 3, 2018, during which two separate documents were produced. An executive summary is presented in this article, which will be customized in different countries or regions in order to adjust the conclusions of the papers for local use and health systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the increasingly common diseases of the age is allergic rhinitis. In the treatment of allergic rhinitis, primarily allergens and drug treatment are used. Antihistamines are used to reduce the effect of allergens. Therefore, physicochemical parameters, side effects and drug interactions such as solubility, biological activity, absorption, lipophilic effects and ionization constants of these drugs have been investigated in recent years. The ionization constant (pKa) is the pH at which the ionized and non-ionized forms of a molecule are equal to each other. pKa value affects the drug absorption. Because most of the drugs are low water-soluble molecules, water-organic solvent binary mixtures are used in the determination of ionization constants. In this study, ionisation constant values of loratadine and desloratadine in water-acetonitrile solvent were determined by HPLC method. The pKa values obtained by using non linear regression program (NLREG) were changed to aqueous pKa values by means of Mole fraction-pKa method and Yasuda-Shedlovsky extrapolation method. It was observed that the data obtained were in harmony with the data calculated by the computer program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate nasal nitric oxide (nNO) and its metabolites nasal nitrite-nitrate (nNOx) in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), the effects of two different drugs (oral antihistamine and intranasal steroid) on nNOx and the presence of a correlation between nNOx and clinical parameters. Methods: Sixty patients with active symptoms of perennial AR and 25 healthy adults as a control group were enrolled. The patients were randomized into two groups. Half of the patients received fexofenadine 1x120 mg/day orally, and the other half received triamcinolone acetonide 1 x2 puff/day intranasally for one month. The amount of nNOx in nasal lavage fluid was measured by using a commercially available kit and the photometric endpoint determination method. Results: Pre-treatment levels of NOx in the nasal lavage fluids (1.92± 1.20 mg/l) of patients with AR were found to be significantly higher when compared with nasal lavage fluid NOx levels of healthy adults (1.38±0.78 mg/l) (p=0.04). The post-treatment nNOx level (1.52±0.85 mg/l) was significantly lower when compared with the pre-treatment value (p=0.028). Conclusion: Nasal nitric oxide metabolites were shown to be good biomarkers for AR, and that oral fexofenadine significantly decreased nNOx levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Eotaxin-2 and regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) are involved in the eosinophil trafficking in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR). Clara cell protein 16 (CC16) is an anti-inflammatory protein mainly produced by the epithelial non-ciliated Clara cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the production of CC16 and chemokines eotaxin-2 and RANTES in nasal mucosa of patients with PAR. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one PAR patients and 20 healthy participants were included. CC16, eotaxin-2, and RANTES concentrations were measured in nasal secretions. PAR patients were administered fluticasone furoate nasal spray (220 μg daily for 14 days). We performed nasal cytology, symptom score assessment, and inflammatory mediator detection before and after the therapy. Results: The level of CC16 in patients with PAR was lower than in the healthy subjects (p=0.023). The eosinophil counts and local concentrations of eotaxin-2 and RANTES were higher in patients with PAR in comparison with controls (p=0.008, p=0.001, p=0.031, respectively). We also found a negative correlation between the CC16 and eotaxin-2 levels in nasal secretions of PAR patients (r=-0.492, p=0.023). After corticosteroid therapy, the patients with PAR had lower nasal symptoms, eosinophil counts, eotaxin-2, and RANTES levels and higher levels of CC16 (p<0.001 for all parameters). Conclusion: Our results suggest the presence of a negative correlation in production of CC16 and eotaxin-2 in nasal mucosa of patients with PAR. Intranasal corticosteroids have a suppressive effect on mucosal eosinophilic inflammation and a stimulating effect on local CC16 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a globally common inflammatory disease that has a considerable effect on an individual's quality of life. It is estimated that AR affects 10% to 25% of the general population. Both gustatory and olfactory disorders affect the social activities and job performance resulting in impaired quality of life in patients suffering from AR. We think that these problems have not been sufficiently investigated in the past. We, therefore, decided to evaluate the smell-taste disorders in patients suffering from AR. Our objective is to evaluate the chemosensory perception in patients suffering from allergic AR. Methods: Fifty-four patients with AR and 34 healthy controls were enrolled for the current study. "Sniffin' sticks" test and taste strips were used for chemosensory assessment. Results: According to the "Sniffin' sticks" test results, patients with AR had significantly lower scores for odor threshold and identification subtasks, whereas there was no difference between the two groups regarding odor discrimination scores (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.3, respectively). After evaluating the taste strip test results, we found that taste scores were significantly low in patients with AR when compared to controls for sweet, salty, bitter and sour tastes. Conclusion: This study showed clinically important deficiency of chemosensory sensitivity in AR patients. Since chemosensory deprivation in AR patients has tended to be overlooked in the past, these outcomes suggest that chemosensory disorders should be part of the standard evaluation of patients with AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Knowledge about the role of the innate immune system in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases has been expanding in recent years. Defensins are antimicrobial peptides that are components of the innate immune system. Defensins have strong efficacy against bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Moreover, they have regulatory functions in many physiologic processes such as antitumoral immunity, chemotaxis, inflammation, and wound healing. In this study, we aimed to investigate β-defensin 2 levels in the nasal fluids of children with allergic rhinitis. Material and Methods: Study and control groups consisted of 28 patients with newly diagnosed allergic rhinitis who were not taking any medication, and 23 healthy children. Skin prick tests were performed on patients with allergic rhinitis and disease severity was assessed using the total symptom score. Nasal fluid samples were obtained using a modified polyurethane sponge absorption method from patients and control subjects. Nasal fluid β-defensin 2 levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The median value of nasal fluid β-defensin 2 levels were 173.8 pg/mL (interquartile range; 54.8-205.9 pg/mL) in allergic rhinitis group and 241.6 pg/mL (163.5-315.2 pg/mL) in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.01). Moreover, nasal fluid β-defensin 2 levels showed a significant negative correlation with total symptom scores (rho= -0.78, p<0.001). Conclusions: Children with allergic rhinitis have reduced nasal fluid β-defensin 2 levels compared with controls, and β-defensin 2 levels were negatively correlated with disease severity. A more definite understanding of the roles of defensins and other antimicrobial peptides in allergic inflammation can open up new horizons in the management and treatment of these common diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergic respiratory diseases are common public health problem. Although several treatment options, some of patients cannot manage to get satisfactory recovery. High altitude (HA) is shown as a natural additive and/or salvage therapy option for this patient group. We aimed to present the effect of HA on allergic rhinitis and bronchial hyperreactivity in company with literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We evaluated the incidence of psychiatric disorders in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and assessed the effects of the use of antidepressants on symptoms when they are included in the treatment regimen of patients with AR who are resistant to AR treatment. Methods: A total of 49 patients who were resistant to the treatment for AR and who did not accept the option of immunotherapy were included in the study. Thirty-eight of the 40 patients were advised to take the antidepressant sertraline; however, only 21 of them agreed to use the medication while 17 of them refused. The 21 patients who agreed to begin the antidepressant were also advised to undergo AR treatment with desloratadine once per day and intranasal mometasone furoate once per day (Group 1). The patients who refused to use the antidepressant were advised to begin the AR treatment (Group 2). Symptom scoring for AR was again performed for all patients 6 weeks after treatment. The Psychological Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI TX I and TX II) were performed on the patients in the company of a psychiatrist. Results: The post-treatment nasal and non-nasal symptom scores in Group 1 were significantly better than the pretreatment scores for any of the seven symptoms (p=0.000). No significant correlation was found between the AR symptom scores and the average SCL-90 general symptom score, the SCL-90 subscale scores, the total BDI scores, and the STAI scores (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that the use of antidepressants diminishes the allergic symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant AR since psychosomatic factor is of great importance in the patient population of AR. Amaç: Bu çalışmada alerjik rinit (AR) hastalarında psikiyatrik bozuklukların insidansı ve AR tedavisine dirençli AR hastalarının tedavi rejimine dahil edildiğinde antidepresanların etkilerini değerlendirmeyi amaçladık. Yöntem: Çalışmaya AR tedavisine dirençli ve immünoterapi seçeneğini kabul etmeyen toplam 49 hasta alındı. Kırk hastanın 38'ine antidepresan sertralin alması önerildi. Ancak yalnızca 21'i ilacı kullanmayı kabul ederken 17'si reddetti. Antidepresana başlamayı kabul eden 21 hastaya ayrıca günde tek doz desloratadin ve intranazal mometazon furoat alması önerildi (Grup 1). Antidepresan kullanmayı reddeden hastalara AR tedavisine başlaması önerildi (Grup 2). Tedaviden 6 hafta sonra hastaların tümünde yeniden AR için semptom skorlaması yapıldı. Bir psikiyatrist nezaretinde hastalara Psikolojik Semptom Kontrol Listesi-90 (The Psychological Symptom Checklist-90; SCL-90), Beck Depresyon Envanteri (Beck Depression Inventory; BDI) ve Anksiyete Durum Envanteri (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; STAI TX I ve TX II) uygulandı. Bulgular: Grup 1'de tedavi sonrası nazal ve nazal olmayan semptom skorları yedi semptomun her biri için tedavi öncesi skorlardan anlamlı derecede daha iyiydi (p=0.000). AR semptom skorlarıyla ortalama SCL-90 genel semptom skoru, SCL-90 altölçek skorları, total BDI skorları ve STAI skorları arasında anlamlı bir korelasyon bulunmadı (p>0.05). Sonuç: AR popülasyonunda psikosomatik faktör büyük önem taşıdığından bu çalışma antidepresan kullanımının tedaviye dirençli AR'de alerjik semptomları azalttığını akla getirmektedir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this case control study is to establish the influence of iris color and retina pigment epithelium melanin on allergic rhinitis. Methods: Ninety-nine subjects diagnosed prospectively as allergic rhinitis and 85 control subjects were included in the study. Color of iris was recorded after ophthalmic examination. Electro-oculographic measurement was done after pupil dilatation and Arden ratios were recorded. Results: Mean age was 29.44±9.8 years in subject with allergic rhinitis and 32.67±12.9 years in control subjects (p>0.05). Measured mean Arden ratio was 158.22±29.4 in subjects with allergic rhinitis and 179.34±29.3 in normal subjects (p<0.05). In control group, Arden ratio was significantly higher in eyes with brown iris (p<0.05). In subjects with allergic rhinitis, Arden ratio was significantly lower in brown eyes (p<0.05). Conclusion: An association between allergic rhinitis and melanin content of iris and retina pigment epithelium was found. It can be speculated that pigment-producing system may play a role in the pathogenesis of the allergic rhinitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: An inverse association between markers of exposure to orofecal pathogens such as hepatitis A and allergic disease has been reported. However, the findings of studies have not been consistent. In this study we compared to the frequency of allergic symptoms and asthma in children with hepatitis A seropositive and seronegative. Materials and Methods: This study was performed in 499 children admitted to our Hospital and in whom we determined specific IgG in serum to hepatitis A virus (HAV). The demographical findings of the children were recorded. They were examined by using ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) questionnaire. Results: The mean age of 449 children was 9.28±2.24 (1-16y) years. 47.7% of the children were female and 52.3% were male. Anti-HAV IgG serology was found positive in 261 children and negative in 238 children. The frequency of physician-diagnosed asthma that kept them awake at night ≤1 per week on average by this itchy rash were found to be high in children with hepatitis A seronegative. Attacks of wheezing in the last 12 months, speech-limiting wheeze and rhinoconjunctivitis in the last 12 months were high in children with hepatitis A seropositive. Conclusion: The frequency of physician-diagnosed asthma is higher in children with hepatitis A seronegative. Significant differences between the two groups in terms of allergic symptoms were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the prevalence and clinical features of allergic rhinitis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Methods: This cross-sectional, clinical study was performed on 64 patients (24 females, 40 males) between October 2011 and November 2012. The Score for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR) questionnaire was carried out to the patients with a recent diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. Skin prick test was performed to the cases who responded positively to SFAR. Descriptive parameters, clinical features and skin prick test results were documented. Results: The mean age of the study group was 41.7±11.2. Eight patients (12.5%) were presumably diagnosed for allergic rhinitis according to SFAR questionnaire. Skin prick test yielded positivity for Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in one of the 8 cases who responded positively for SFAR. The most common symptoms were sneezing (n=15; 23.4%), nasal obstruction (n=12; 18.8%), and nasal itching (n=12; 18.8%). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that prevalence of allergic rhinitis is lower in ankylosing spondylitis patients. However, clinical and pathophysiological features of allergic rhinitis accompanying autoimmune diseases must be investigated in further trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recent studies point to a relationship between allergic diseases and vitamin D deficiency. This relationship seems to be associated with immune-modulator effects of the derivatives of vitamin D. However, there are limited number of studies on the relationship between allergic rhinitis and derivatives of vitamin D. We planned our study to investigate this issue. Methods: The study group was composed of 30 patients diagnosed with allergic rhinitis according to ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) Criteria. The control group included 30 patients of the same age and gender without any allergic rhinitis disease. The patients with an underlying disease which may cause deficiency of calcium and vitamin D were excluded. The significance of the difference between study and control groups in terms of serum 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D levels was also evaluated. Results: It was determined that the levels of vitamin D were within normal (10-90 ng/mL) limits in both groups. It was found out that the mean serum 25(OH)vitamin D level (15.39 ng/mL) of the study group was significantly lower than the control group (53.80 ng/mL) (p=0.00). No significant difference was found between the genders in terms of vitamin D levels (p=0.398). Conclusion: It is necessary to do more researches on the effects of vitamin D derivatives on allergic rhinitis. This study indicates that a vitamin D deficiency should be taken into consideration during the treatment for resistant allergic rhinitis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the distribution of allergens and allergic symptoms according to occupation groups in those who were exposed to toluene and presented with allergic rhinitis symptoms. Materials and methods: Of the 2005 patients who were administered an allergy test with the prediagnosis of allergic rhinitis, the files of 138 patients who were exposed to toluene were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The mean age of the patients was 35 ± 10 years. Distributions of symptoms and allergens of 57 patients (41.3%) with negative skin prick test and 81 patients (58.7%) with positive skin prick test were analyzed according to occupation groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of symptoms at baseline except for the symptom of runny nose (P > 0.05). The groups were compared in terms of complaints that started at the age of 16 or later, which was found as 76.5% in the positive group and 91.2% in the negative group. Conclusion: The occupation of the patient must be considered in patients who present with allergic symptoms; in particular, patients with negative skin prick test should be investigated in terms of occupational exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the relationship between skin prick test results and allergic symptoms and to discover which symptom or symptoms are more commonly associated with the skin prick test. Materials and methods: Of the 1462 patients with a prediagnosis of allergic rhinitis (AR) who underwent the skin prick test, 495 subjects completed the symptoms inquiry form and were included in the study. Results: Out of 495 cases, the skin prick test was found to be positive in 358 and negative in 137. No significant relationship was found between sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose, nasal obstruction, headache, postnasal drip, and skin prick test positivity (P > 0.05). There was a significant relationship between ocular complaints (watering, itching, discharge) and skin prick test results (P = 0.027). The groups with positive and negative skin prick test results were compared in terms of symptom severity. While the difference between itchy nose and ocular symptoms was found to be significant, this difference was not significant in terms of nasal obstruction, postnasal drip, and sneezing. Conclusion: While no significant relationship was found between symptoms accepted as allergic, such as sneezing and itchy nose, symptoms such as eye itching and watering were found to be related to allergy. We recommend performing the skin prick test routinely on patients presenting with AR symptoms. This would also prevent unnecessary antihistamine use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to perform the analysis of hematological parameters in patients with allergic rhinitis symptoms. 181 patients underwent the skin prick test and completed the symptoms inquiry form were included in the study. We measured RBC (Red blood cells), Hb (hemoglobin), Htc (hemotocrit), WBC (white blood cells), PLT (platelet) and MPV (mean platelet volume) of the subjects. The relationship of the skin prick test positivity, allergic symptoms, severity and duration of symptoms, with the hematological parameters are analysed. Hematologic parameters were in normal ranges in patients who presented with symptoms of chronic rhinitis. There was no correlation between skin prick test positivity and hematological parameters. In the Alergic rhinitis group, RBC and Hb were seen to be affected by duration of illness and not to be affected by allergen distribution. WBC was seen to decrease as the duration of illness prolonged in both allergic and non-allergic groups. The presence of nasal symptoms was found to be associated with high RBC, Hb, Htc values. In the AR group, the RBC and Hb were found to have been affected by the duration of illness, and unaffected by the allergen distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]