Characteristics of allergic rhinitis patients in karlovac county

Cilj: Analizirati preosjetljivost na uobičajene inhalacijske alergene i simptome u populaciji odraslih bolesnika s kliničkom slikom alergijskog rinitisa u Karlovcu i okolici. Metode: Retrospektivno prikazujemo rezultate kožnog ubodnog testa i standardiziranog upitnika o simptomima bolesti, komorbiditetu s astmom, te alergijskim bolestima u obitelji. Rezultati: Od 456 testiranih bolesnika sa simptomima rinitisa, 227 ima pozitivnu reakciju na kožni ubodni test (49,7 %). Ispitanici su najčešće pokazali preosjetljivost na alergene grinja, zatim na pelud korova, pelud trava i pelud stabala. Monosenzibiliziranih je 35 %, na 2 alergena preosjetljivo je 28 %, na 3 i više 37 %. 40 % oboljelih mlađe je od 30 godina, a samo 7 % starije je od 60 godina. 65 % ispitanika ima sekreciju iz nosa, 58 % otežano disanje na nos, 41 % ispitanika kiše, 32 % kašlje, 37 % ima očne simptome, dok 26 % ima svrbež nosa. Obiteljska anamneza na alergijske bolesti pozitivna je u 36 % bolesnika. O komorbiditetu s astmom izvijestilo je 7,5 % ispitanika. Perzistentni oblik rinitisa ima 61 % bolesnika, a 39 % ima intermitentni. Rasprava i zaključak: U naših bolesnika s alergijskim rinitisom značajno je veći udio žena nego muškaraca. Ostali prediktori razvoja bolesti: dob, alergijske bolesti u obitelji, komorbiditet s astmom, komorbiditet s konjuktivitisom i oblik bolesti na razini su dosad opisanog. Grinje i pelud korova najčešći su alergeni koji izazivaju preosjetljivost. U usporedbi s drugim rezultatima, karlovačka regija ima osobine i mediteranskih i kontinentalnih europskih regija. Iako je općenito dobro proučen, alergijski rinitis je bolest koja pokazuje regionalne epidemiološke posebnosti koje zaslužuju biti ispitane i opisane.Aim: To analyze the common aeroallergen hypersensitivity and symptoms within the population of adults suffering from allergic rhinitis in Karlovac County. Methods: Retrospectively we show the results of skin prick testing and standardized questionnaire regarding symptoms, comorbidity with asthma and family history of allergic diseases. Results: A total of 456 patients with rhinitis symptoms were tested and questioned. Two hundred and twenty seven of them had positive skin prick test (49,7 %). The most common hypersensitivity reaction was on the house dust, followed by weed pollen, grass pollen and the tree pollen. Thirty five per cent of patients were monosensitisized, 28 % were hypersensitive on two allergens, 37 % on three or more tested allergens. Forty per cent of patients were under the 30 years of age, and only 7 % were above 60. Sixty five per cent of our allergic rhinitis patients complained on rhinorrhoea, 58 % on nasal obstruction, 41 % on sneezing, and 32 % on cough. Thirty seven per cent had ocular symptoms and 26 % had nasal itching. Allergy in family was confirmed by 36 % of patients, while 7,5 % of allergic rhinitis patients were also asthma patients. Persistent form of disease was verified in 61 % of patients, and intermittent in 39 %. Discussion and conclusion: In our study, the female predominance was significantly higher. The other predictors: age, family history of allergy, comorbidity with asthma and conjunctivitis, persistent or intermittent disease form were on the level described in the literature. Dust mites and weed pollen confirmed to be the most common aeroallergens. Although generally a well-studied pathological entity, allergic rhinitis shows regional epidemiological differences which are worth to be examined and evaluated