Rhinitis and allergens in Saudi Arabia
Sørensen, H.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 149(4): 216-219
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 3824586 Document Number: 290145
One hundred consecutive patients with perennial rhinitis were examined clinically and by means of laboratory investigations and allergy tests in order to elucidate the pathogenesis of the disease and the clinical value of various tests in the assessment of the patients. Simultaneously, investigations of indoor airborne allergens in the patients' homes were performed by mold cultures and dust analyses by counter-current immunoelectrophoresis. Two-thirds of the patients were males and the peak incidence occurred in the second and third decades. In 54% of the cases, allergy was proven. The commonest allergen was grass pollen. Twelve per cent had non-allergic rhinitis with nasal eosinophilia. In this study, investigations of blood eosinophils and IgE were found to be of value in the assessment of patients with perennial rhinitis. Twenty-four fungal genera were isolated from house dust with Aspergillus as the commonest.