RETROSPECTIVE HOSPITAL DATA BASED STUDY ON ALLERGIC RHINITIS CASES IN UPPER ASSAM REGION

Introduction: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is clinically dened as a symptomatic disorder of the nose induced after allergen exposure by an IgE- mediated inammation of the nasal mucous membranes. The symptoms include rhinorrhea (anterior or posterior), nasal congestion, nasal itching, and sneezing. In this study, we tried to determine the prevalence of Allergic Rhinitis among the people of North Eastern part of India (Assam) retrospectively. So we did a data based cohort study in a cross sectional pattern of the patients of visited Otorhinolaryngology Department of Assam medical college Dibrugarh, India, from July 2019 to June 2020. Aims And Objectives: To study about the burden of Allergic rhinitis among the people of Upper Assam Region. Methods And Materials: A study was done retrospectively based on data of the 420 patients who visited Otorhinolaryngology OPD in Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh from July 2019 to June 2020, with symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis. The diagnosis was made on the basis of history and clinical examination. Discussion: It was found that out of 420 patients, the bulk of patients came to OPD during rainy season of august, autumn months of October and winter months of November. Besides 64% of people were of working age groups of 21-59 years who were exposed to dust , pollens, fungus , house dust mites during seasonal variations. Conclusion: The burden of allergic rhinitis in upper Assam region is largely underestimated. The cause of consistent symptoms of allergic rhinitis was noncompliance with medications, Lack of ability to comply with the advice of prevention of exposure to allergens, lack of education, lack of denitive diagnosis in peripheral health centre.