Nasal Eosinophilia in Allergic Rhinitis: A Clinico-Correlative Observational Study

Authors: Gupta S, Belaldavar BP and Havaldar RR*

DOI: 10.23880/ooaj-16000190

Volume 5, Issue 1

Abstract

Introduction: Eosinophils are thought to play an important role in the symptomatology and pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis. Blood eosinophilia and tissue eosinophilia are characteristic features of allergic inflammation and asthma, conditions associated with prominent production of Th2 cytokines. Objective: To correlate the eosinophil count of nasal secretions in clinically diagnosed patients of allergic rhinitis and patients with no nasal complaint. Methods: Patients were selected on the basis of history and clinical examination and equal numbers of controls were taken. Both were subjected to nasal smear examination for eosinophilia. Results: Overall, eighty seven percent of nasal smears were positive in various degrees among the cases while only around seven percent of slides were positive for eosinophils in control group. Conclusion: Nasal smear eosinophilia had a very high specificity and moderately high sensitivity in diagnosing allergic rhinitis and it seems to be a potentially valuable test for allergic rhinitis.

Keywords: Allergic Rhinitis; Nasal eosinophilia; Allergy

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