Clinical effect of allergic rhinitis in adult bronchiectasis

Abstarct Body:Bronchiectasis is common in developing countries but there are no data in the literature about presence of rhinitis and bronchiectasis. The present study was investigated presence and effect of allergic rhinitis in bronchiectasis. Symptoms, pulmonary function tests (PFT’s), blood eosinophil percent, skin prick tests (SPT’s), admission to emergency department in last year were recorded. The study enrolled 96 patients who diagnosed as a bronchiectasis by using chest high resolution computed tomography. Allergic rhinitis was defined SPT’s positivity and presence of any nasal symptoms (watery runny nose, nasal obstruction, nasal itching, sneezing). The mean age of patients was 48.4±15.2 years (range18-82) and 55(57.3%) patients were female. Fifty-two(54.2%) had nasal obstruction, 34(35.4%) patients had watery runny nose, 28(29.2%) had sneezing and 20(20.8%) had nasal itching. The mean blood eosinophil percent was 2.8 ±2.3(range 0.1-14.2). SPT’s positivity was detected in 35(36.5%) cases. The most common positive allergen to SPT’s were house dust mites (dermatophagoides farinea 28(29%) and dermatophagoides pteronyssinus 26(26.9%). Nasal obstruction and loss of smell were related to SPT’s positivity (p We concluded that allergic rhinitis in bronchiectasis patients may effect symptoms and number of admission to emergency department. We think that, it’s important to be aware of nasal symptoms in bronchiectasis patients.