Allergic rhinitis: Clinical characteristics and the level of awareness about the disease and its complications in allergic rhinitis patients
Background: Allergic rhinitis is one of the very common conditions observed in clinical practice with an increasing incidence and prevalence. It results in decreased productivity and absenteeism. Due to the complications and co-morbidities associated with allergic rhinitis, it is a major health...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Perspectives In Medical Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.pimr.org.in/prakash_vol5-issue3-2017.PDF |
| Summary: | Background: Allergic rhinitis is one of the very common
conditions observed in clinical practice with an increasing
incidence and prevalence. It results in decreased productivity
and absenteeism. Due to the complications and co-morbidities
associated with allergic rhinitis, it is a major health concern.
Patients develop complications because of lack of awareness
about the disease and inappropriate or incomplete treatment.
In view of this, the present study was conducted to study the
clinical characteristics of the disease in patients with allergic
rhinitis attending Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department in a
tertiary care centre as well as to evaluate the level of awareness
about the disease and its complications among these patients.
Materials & Methods: All allergic rhinitis patients
attending the ENT Department were included in the study.
Patients were verbally administered the questions from a well
structured questionnaires and the responses were
documented. The questions were structured to elicit
information regarding the clinical characteristics of the disease,
patient’s awareness about the disease and its complications.
Results were tabulated and evaluated. A comparison of the
study data to the historical data from published literature was
also undertaken.
Results: Of the hundred patients administered with
the questionnaire, patients of the age group of 31 to 40 years
of age (28%) were the most commonly affected. The most
common symptoms observed were sneezing, watery discharge
from the nose and itching in the nose seen in 97% of the
patients followed by nose block, seen in 91% of the patients.
83% of the patients reported worsening of the symptoms on
exposure to dust; 69% had bouts of sneezing early in the
morning on waking up and 62% of the patients had seasonal
variation of symptoms. 32% of the patients also had the
symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis and 29% of the patients
bronchial asthma. 38% of the patients were aware of the
common allergens and 20% said they were aware of possible
complications like sinusitis, nasal polyps. 25% understood the
need for regular treatment to avoid complications of allergic
rhinitis. Only 5% said they may develop bronchial asthma.
Conclusion: Though allergic rhinitis is a common disease
causing morbidity and complications, patient awareness about
the disease is inadequate. Considering the high prevalence of
the disease, health education about the disease including
etiology, avoidance and management to the population and
allergic rhinitis patients is necessary. |
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| ISSN: | 2348-1447 2348-229X |