Recognition of allergic conjunctivitis in patients with allergic rhinitis

Abstract

AimsTo identify the incidence of allergic conjunctivitis in patients with allergic rhinitis.MethodsOne hundred and eighty seven consecutive patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) were directly questioned if they have allergic conjunctivitis (AC) and this was clarified using standard screening questions relating to red, itchy and watery eyes recorded through a total ocular symptom score (TOSS). Patients were also asked about further symptoms that may be attributable to AC: eyelid dermatitis, frequent blinking; eye sensitivity and frontal headache from squinting or. blinking. All patients were given a drop of olopatadine hydrochloride 0.1% in each eye to help identify “silent” disease. 20 healthy non-atopic controls were also treated with olopatadine drops and questioned on ocular symptoms.ResultsFifty five percent of patients with AR were identified as having AC by direct questioning and the use of the TOSS questionaire. A further 41% were identifiable by asking additional questions and performing therapeutic challenge with olopadatine.ConclusionsAC is a frequent comorbid condition occurring in 95% of our patients with AR. Only 55% of patients were able to identify that they had AC based on standard screening questions. Additional specific questioning and a therapeutic challenge in suspected patients can help identify patients who may benefit from treatment of AC.

Five-grass-pollen sublingual immunotherapy tablet for the treatment of grass-pollen-induced allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: 5 years of experience

“…The co-existence of allergic conjunctivitis in patients with AR is widely recognized [13,14]. In a recent study, allergic conjunctivitis was identified in 53.5% of patients with AR, a finding comparable to those from other studies [15]. More than one-third of patients with AR have asthma [2]; AR frequently precedes the development of asthma and has been proposed as an independent risk factor for it [16].…”

Recomendaciones para el manejo del niño con enfermedades alérgicas en la escuela

“…15 El 50% de los pacientes con rinitis alérgica tienen asociados síntomas oculares. 16 El diagnóstico se basa en la clínica, el examen físico y las pruebas cutáneas positivas para alérgenos.…”

“…El bloqueo condiciona insuficiencia ventilatoria nasal y necesidad de suspirar, que interfiere en la actividad escolar y deportiva, lo que se agrava si se asocia a conjuntivitis. [16][17][18] El efecto indirecto es consecuencia de la alteración del sueño, que produce inatención, 17 infección respiratoria recurrente, alteración de la audición por disfunción de la trompa de Eustaquio 19 e impacto sobre la secuencia vigilia-sueño. 20,21 El uso inadecuado de fármacos para el control de los síntomas agrava el impacto sobre la calidad de vida ocasionada por la rinitis.…”

A Prospective Study of the Prevalence of Allergic Conjunctivitis in Allergic Rhinitis

“…Specific questioning regarding indirect symptoms increased the incidence of AC in patients with AR to 94.7%.according to a study [6] .…”