[The allergic genesis of chronic-sinusitis (author's transl)]

On examination of 587 patients with obstructed nasal respiration it was found that 50.2% had sinusitis. In 40.3% of these cases the origin was allergic. House dust and house dust mites and to a lesser extent moulds were the responsible agents in 82% of those patients who had perennial symptoms. The determinative diagnostic criteria in this group of patients were the intracutaneous skin test and the nasal provocation test. The RAST and the individual case history (usually reliable) were less dependable. A nasal allergy is probably the commonest cause of sinusitis. Every patient who suffers from this disease, and especially those whose sinusitis is chronic, should for this reason be examined for allergies. Anti-allergic medication should, accordingly to the diagnostic results, accompany the appropriate antibiotic therapy.