Allergic Rhinitis: November 2006 Archives

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- There is epidemiological evidence that the prevalence of allergic rhinitis is rising worldwide, according to U.S. researchers.

"Reports indicate (allergic rhinitis) has increased 100 percent in each of the last three decades in developed countries," said Dr. Eli O. Meltzer, co-director of the Allergy & Asthma Medical Group & Research Center and of the University of California in San Diego.

"With allergic disorders estimated to affect some 1.4 billion people globally, there appears to be a worldwide epidemic of allergic diseases. Studies suggest this is likely a consequence of our changing environment, reduced infections and genetic susceptibilities," said Meltzer.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 15 -- When inhaled corticosteroids don't adequately control a patient's asthma, the choice of next-best add-on therapy is open to debate.

So specialists did just that at a symposium, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, held in conjunction with the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Each argued for one possible add-on therapy -- long-acting beta agonists, immunotherapy, leukotriene receptor antagonists, and plain old aspirin.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Regular physical activity might offer children some protection from the sniffs and sneezes of hay fever, a study suggests.

German researchers found that among the 1,700 children they followed for up to 12 years, those who were inactive at the study's start were 50 percent more likely to develop hay fever, compared with their regularly active peers.

According to the researchers, their findings are unlikely to be a case of "reverse causality," where hay fever caused some children to avoid outdoor activities. For one, the study followed the children over time, documenting new cases of hay fever. In addition, sedentary children were inactive year-round, not only during pollen season. 

Instead, the findings, published in the journal Allergy, suggest that regular exercise may somehow keep hay fever at bay.

A significant portion of the population suffers from allergic rhinitis. Rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy nose, and conjunctivitis are common symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis, and antihistamines are considered a first-line treatment for the management of these symptoms.

Improvements in health-related quality of life and health status were measured in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of levocetirizine, a new antihistamine, in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis.

Patients recorded responses to the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) at the beginning of the randomization visit and at 1 and 4 weeks later, as well as at 3, 4.5, and 6 months after the randomization visits. Health status was also assessed using the Short Form (SF)-36 measure at all of the same time points, with the exception of Week 1.