Nasal allergy in medical students

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Epidemiology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Nasal allergy, or allergic rhinitis, is a common condition impacting quality of life and academic performance.
• Understanding the prevalence and triggers of nasal allergy in specific populations like medical students is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of nasal allergy among medical students at a university.
• To identify the primary allergens responsible for nasal allergy in this cohort.
• To investigate the occurrence of allergic reactions in asymptomatic students.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1983 to 1987 involving 471 medical students.
• Intradermal skin tests were performed using six common allergens: house dust, ragweed, Japanese cedar, orchard grass, candida, and *Blastomyces dermatitidis* (broncasma berna).
• Nasal provocation tests were utilized to confirm allergic responses in a subset of participants.

Main Results:

• The overall incidence of symptomatic nasal allergy was 32.7% (154 out of 471 students).
• House dust (HD) and Japanese cedar were the most prevalent allergens, with positive skin test rates of 66.4% and 51.0% in symptomatic students, respectively.
• A significant proportion of asymptomatic students (34.4% for HD, 19.6% for Japanese cedar) exhibited positive skin test reactions, with some also showing positive nasal provocation tests.

Conclusions:

• House dust and Japanese cedar are significant allergens contributing to nasal allergy in medical students.
• The presence of positive skin and provocation tests in asymptomatic students suggests a high prevalence of latent allergies within this group.
• Long-term follow-up studies are recommended to monitor asymptomatic individuals with positive allergic test results.