Abhey Sood1. 1. IG Govt. Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh India.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nasal eosinophilia is one of the potential tests for substantiating the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to establish the validity of nasal eosinophilia in allergic rhinitis, to study it's various clinical correlates and interpret it in context of skin sensitivity pattern. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cased study. SETTING: Hospital based. PATIENTS: The patients were selected on the basis of history and clinical examination and were from the Himalayan region. INTERVENTION: Diagnostic. METHODS: The patients and the equal number of controls, were subjected to nasal smear for eosinophilia and intra-dermal skin tests to various allergeus. RESULTS: Overall, eighty percent of nasal smears were positive in various degrees among the cases. Around eighty-eight percent of cases showed both smear and skin test positivity, thereby signifying a high degree of harmony among them and further validating and confirming the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. CONCLUSION: Nasal eosinophilia was found to be a useful diagnostic test in allergic rhinitis, with a moderately high sensitivity and a high specificity.
BACKGROUND: Nasal eosinophilia is one of the potential tests for substantiating the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to establish the validity of nasal eosinophilia in allergic rhinitis, to study it's various clinical correlates and interpret it in context of skin sensitivity pattern. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cased study. SETTING: Hospital based. PATIENTS: The patients were selected on the basis of history and clinical examination and were from the Himalayan region. INTERVENTION: Diagnostic. METHODS: The patients and the equal number of controls, were subjected to nasal smear for eosinophilia and intra-dermal skin tests to various allergeus. RESULTS: Overall, eighty percent of nasal smears were positive in various degrees among the cases. Around eighty-eight percent of cases showed both smear and skin test positivity, thereby signifying a high degree of harmony among them and further validating and confirming the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. CONCLUSION: Nasal eosinophilia was found to be a useful diagnostic test in allergic rhinitis, with a moderately high sensitivity and a high specificity.