Investigation of Vitamin A Levels in Patients with Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis

In this study, symptom monitoring was performed by examining the demographic characteristics and laboratory findings of a total of 73 patients (43 males[58.9%] and 30 females [41.1%]) diagnosed with allergic rhinitis and followed at the Pediatric Allergy Clinic of Osmangazi University. The patients were aged between 7 and 18 years, with a mean age of 10.6±2.9 years. Based on weight-for-height assessments, 12 patients (16.4%) were classified as obese. Conjunctivitis was present in 27 patients (36.9%), asthma in 27 (36.9%), food allergy in 3(4.1%), atopic dermatitis in 20 (27.3%). A family history of atopy was identified in 38 patients (52.1%). The mean duration of allergic rhinitis was calculated as 4.3±3.03 years. Allergen exposure was classified as outdoor in 40 patients(54.8%), indoor in 26(35.6%), and both indoor and outdoor in 7 patients(9.6%). According to the ARIA classification, patients were grouped as mild intermittent(38 patients), moderate/severe intermittent(14 patients), mild persistent(14 patients), and moderate/severe persistent(7 patients). No statistically significant correlation was found between symptom duration/severity and age, sex, weight-for-height ratio, disease duration, type of allergen, personal or familial history of atopy. Vitamin A deficiency was detected in 32.9% of the patients, eosinophilia in 13.72%, and elevated total IgE levels in 19.2%. There was no significant association between these laboratory findings and symptom duration or severity. Among patients with conjunctivitis, vitamin A deficiency was found in 33.3%, eosinophilia in 14.8%, elevated total IgE levels in 25.9%. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between conjunctivitis and these laboratory parameters. Considering the high prevalence of allergic rhinitis in children and the potential link between vitamin A and allergic diseases, this study contributes to the literature by evaluating factors associated with symptom duration and severity, particularly in light of the lack of sufficient evidence regarding the effect of vitamin A supplementation in reducing symptoms.