ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Otorinolaringologia 1999 March;49(1):1-6

Copyright © 2000 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Atopic rhinitis and prick test. An epidemiological update

Massari M. G., Sbacchi J.*, Bolandrini E.*, Costa I.*, Ottaviani F.**

IRCCS, Milano Istituto Auxologico Italiano * Università degli Studi - Milano Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS Istituto di Clinica Otorinolaringoiatrica ** Polo Universitario San Paolo, Milano Istituto di Clinica Otorinolaringoiatrica

Background. In order to update the situation on atopic rhinitis we have analyzed patients subjected to prick test in the rhinology service of the Ear Nose and Throat Department of the University of Milan during 1993, 1994 and 1995.
Methods. We have observed the trend of positive tests and compared these results with Italian and European data.
Results. First of all, the analysis of our 740 patients with nasal hyperreactivity shows a progressive increase in positive Prick test year after year without difference in the two sexes. Subjects allergic to gramineae are the greatest group, followed by acari; these were increasing year after year; the same for ambrosia. It is different for pellitory and compositae: allergic percentage does not change in the period of observation. About the trend of mono and polyallergic patients, the percentage is fixed: polyallergic subjects are the largest group of patients. In agreement with the literature, there is no significant difference in the two sexes about mono and polyallergic percentage.
Conclusions. We think that deep knowledge of epidemiology is necessary to obtain an effective prevention and a best check on allergic illness evolution.