Profile and demographic factors in allergic rhinitis patients: a clinical study

Allergic Rhinitis (AR) represents a global health problem. It is an extremely common disease worldwide, affecting 10 to 25% of the population. AR constitutes approximately 55% of all allergies seen in India. However, in India, AR still does not receive the attention it deserves by both patients, as well as, clinicians. This hospital based cross sectional retrospective study was done on 2525 patients who had attended E.N.T. OPD at a tertiary care hospital of Central India, with aim to study clinical profile and demographic factors of allergic rhinitis. Majority (72%) of the subjects were suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis and 28% from perennial allergic rhinitis. Majority of the subjects (62%) belonged to low income category, followed by Middle income category (25.6%), and rest were upper income category (12.4%). The study reveals most common symptom in seasonal allergic rhinitis is nasal obstruction (p=0.0001) and in perennial allergic rhinitis is sneezing (p=0.18) and rhinorrhea (p=0.01) and these results are statistically significant. The symptom of rhinorrhoea was frequently seen in allergic rhinitis patients. Also nasal obstruction was distinct feature which could easily show the presence of allergic rhinitis. It was found that sign of transverse crease can also help us to find cases of perennial allergic rhinitis. Allergic shiners and allergic salute were also mostly seen in patients of allergic rhinitis which can also help us to distinguish cases of various type of rhinitis. The disease was more commonly found in younger age group and low income category.