Frequency of asthma, atopic dermatitis and food alergy symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is a symptomatic disease caused by IgE reletead inflammation of surrounding membranes of the nose after exposure to allergens. AR is the most frequent of atopic deseases. AR can be found together with many other respiratuary tract diseases like sinusitis, otitis media,nasal polips,laryngitis or atopic diseases.In our study we aimed to find the frequency of asthma, atopic dermatitis and food allergy symptoms seen in patients with AR. 200 patients who applied to outpatient clinic and diagnosed as AR between December 2010 ? April 2011 were included in the study. Our control group consist of 200 patients who received allergen spesific immunotherapy for at least three years in our outpatient clinic. Skin prick test were applied to the patients. Symptom scores were evalauted. Modified ECRHS phase 1 and UKWP questionaires were applied.Our case group consisted of 108 female (% 54) and 92 male (% 46) patients; where control group consisted of 129 female (% 64,5) and 71 male (% 35,5) patients. In the case group wheezing (% 36,5), dyspnea with wheezing (% 32), wheezing without cold (% 29,5), waking up with dyspnea (%21), waking up with chest tightness (% 13) and waking up with caugh was seen more frequent. Patients with asthma like symptoms were more frequent in the case group. Current asthma and cumulative asthma frequency was equal in both groups. Asthma like symptoms, current asthma and cumulative asthma frequency was more in patients with perennial AR. In both groups asthma like symptoms, current asthma and cumulative asthma frequency was more in female patients. Atopic dermatitis was seen in 54 patients in the case group(% 27) and 42 patients in the control group (% 21). Skin symptoms were more in females. Food allergy frequency was more in patients who received immunotherapy.In our study we found percentages of asthma like symptoms more higher than the other studies made with ERCHS formerly in our country. We concluded that this can be due to a more risky population of our study group who consisted of AR patients.Key Words: Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma, Atopic dermatitis, food allergy, comorbidity