[A diagnostic instrument for allergic rhinitis]

Allergic rhinitis is the most common chronic disease in the upper respiratory tract, requiring better diagnostic methodology to counteract its onslaught.

This study included 116 subjects by random election, sex indistinct, between 1 and 68 years old with an average of 24.6. Data were obtained by medical history, measure levels of circulating eosinophils, serum IgE, mucous nasal eosinophils and coproparasitoscopic test. The subjects were divided in two groups, 58 patients with allergic rhinitis and 58 health subjects.

From total subjects, 56.3% were female, 18.9% showed high levels of circulating eosinophils and sera IgE. 24.1% had positive identification of eosinophils in nasal mocous and 25% suffered parasitosis. In the rhinitis group, the average time of evolution was 5.3 years, in 80% with perennial presentation, 37.9% showed environmental exposure to allergens at home (p = NS), 56.8% had family history of allergy, 60% had more than twice monthly acute crisis, 29.3% had risen above the upper level of circulating eosinophils (p = 0.0049), 25.8% had high levels of IgE (p = 0.0002), in 37.93% were found nasal mucous eosinophils (p = 0.0009) and in 10.34% were identified intestinal parasitosis (p = n.s.).

In accordance with this work, it is necessary to promote a change in attitude, utilizing the medical history as a diagnostic instrument and do not restrict prevention and opportunity in treatment to laboratory results.