FREQUENCY AND DETERMINANTS OF ALLERGIC RHINITIS IN PATIENTS VISITING ENT DEPARTMENT OF JHL, LAHORE

The study was aimed to find out the frequency of Allergic Rhinitis in patients visiting the OPD of ENT department of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore and associated risk factors. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in OPD of ENT department of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore and included all the subjects who visited during April 23 – May 6 2018 except those who were not willing to give consent. Duration of study was one month and the and the sample size was 200. Results: The sample size for our study was 200 among those, 96 (48%) were males & 104 (52%) were females & those having age less than 20 years were 36 (18%), those having age between 20-35 years were 73(36.5%), between 35-50 years were 57 (28.5%) & those more than 50 years were 34 (17%).63(31.5%) belonged to rural areas while 137(68.5%) were from urban areas.142(71%) had a problem of runny nose with watery eyes without flu & 58(29%) had no such problem.72(36%) were facing the problem at the time of survey while 128(64%) were not.109(54.5%)had a positive family history for this problem while 91(45.5) had no such history.113(56.5%) had seasonal variation of symptoms while 48(24%) had symptoms all the year.29(14.5%) had an increase in symptoms during spring season, 10(5%) during autumn, 62(31%) during winter & 11 (5.5%) during summer.56(28%)had episodes of attack in early morning, 49(24.5%) during daytime,22(11%) in evening, 25(12.5%) in late-night & 8(4%) had post coital episode.92(46%) had exposure to pollens while 108(54%) had no such exposure. 25(12.5%) had exposure to molds while 175(87.5%) did not have such exposure. 51(25.5%) were exposed to furred animals while 149(74.5%) were not. 120(60%) showed symptoms at dusty places while 80(40%) had no such symptoms. Out of 200 patients, 115(57.5%) were using medicine for allergic rhinitis. Conclusion: According to our study the frequency of Allergic Rhinitis was 36% in patients visiting OPD of ENT department of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. Morning time and winter season were the most common trigger factors of AR. Family history of AR, exposure to animal dander, molds, pollens or dusty places, smoking and stress were the significant risk factors associated with AR prevalence in patients. Key words: Allergic rhinitis, prevalence, determinants