It must be remembered that severe side effects associated with anti-TB drugs were encountered with different frequencies especially among patients hospitalized for pulmonary tuberculosis, and these patients should be followed up by closer monitoring for side effects related to anti-TB drugs.

H1-antihistamines are inverse agonists that combine with and stabilize inactive conformation of H1-receptors. Thus they interfere with actions of histamine at H1-receptors. They are widely used for treatment of allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, urticaria, coughs, colds and insomnia. H1-antihistamines are classified as older 'first generation' and newer 'second generation'. First generation H1-antihistamines have poor receptor H1-receptor selectivity, and cross blood-brain-barrier. They have a lot of adverse events such as anti-muscarinic, anti-α-adrenergic, anti-serotonin, and sedative effects. In contrast, second generation H1-antihistamines were highly selective for the histamine H1-receptor, do not cross the blood brain barrier, and have minimal adverse events. The risks of first-generation H1-antihistamines have been clearly underestimated, particularly when purchased as nonprescribed over the counter medications by public. This review summarizes current literature to evaluate antihistamines including their mechanism, indications and side-effects.

<b><i>Background:</i></b> International guidelines in asthma and allergy has been updated for COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic has caused dramatic changes in allergy and immunology services. However, it is not known whether specialty-specific recommendations for COVID-19 are followed by allergists. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> By conducting this study, we aimed to determine the attitudes and experiences of adult/pediatric allergists on allergy management during COVID-19. <b><i>Method:</i></b> We used a 20-question survey to elicit data from allergists (residents and pediatric and adult allergists registered to the Turkish National Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology) across Turkey via e-mail. We analyzed the data statistically for frequency distributions and descriptive analysis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 183 allergists participated in the survey. Telemedicine was used for management of asthma (73%), allergic rhinitis (53%), atopic dermatitis (51%), chronic urticaria/angioedema (59%), drug hypersensitivity (45%), food allergy (48%), venom allergy (30%), anaphylaxis (22%), and hereditary angioedema (28%). Thirty-one percent of the respondents discontinued subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirty-four percent of the physicians reported interruption of systemic steroid use in asthma patients, and 25% of the respondents discontinued biological therapy. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Allergists in Turkey have been using telemedicine at a high rate during the COVID-19 pandemic for asthma and rhinitis. The continuation rate of SCIT was low while the discontinuation rate of biologicals and systemic steroid use in asthma was high in Turkey.<b><i></i></b>Our study results and learning from the experiences of other countries and specialties may help to optimize allergy practice and compatibility with international guidelines.

Anaphylaxis was often diagnosed and managed inadequately, regardless of practice location, employment status and speciality in north-eastern Turkey.

Background: Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) are frequently encountered health problems in the general population. Habitual snoring and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) constitute most SRBD diagnoses. Although the decrease in quality of life is a well-known entity in SRBD patients, there is not enough data regarding the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms to explain this deterioration. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate which parameters were affecting the quality of life in patients with SRBD. Methods: Medical Outcome Survey – Short Form 36 (SF-36) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale were used in 135 patients with SRBD (69 patients with OSAHS and 66 patients with habitual snoring), and Charlson comorbidity index was calculated. Acquired data were compared with leading symptoms and polysomnographic findings in these patients. Results: All SF-36 scores were significantly decreased in SRBD patients. However, there were no significant differences in the SF-36 scores of these patients. Also, no significant correlation was found between the severity of OSAHS and the SF-36 scores. Similarly, none of the polysomnographic parameters was found significantly correlated with SF-36 scores. In contrast, all SF-36 scores were influenced by body mass index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, mean nocturnal saturation and the presence of coexisting diseases. Conclusions: According to the results of multiple variance analysis, we concluded that the quality of life depends on a number of collaborative factors such as obesity, mean nocturnal saturation, symptoms related to SRBD and the presence of comorbid diseases, rather than only on one independent parameter in the patients with SRBD.