Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the skin prick test results in pediatric and adult groups with allergic rhinitis symptoms in Alanya district and its vicinity.

METHODS: The study included 460 patients (242 males, 216 females) who applied to Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University Hospital due to complaints of nasal discharge, nasal congestion and pruritus between January 2017 and December 2018 and were administered skin prick test with a pre-diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. Of the patients, 258 (130 males, 128 females) were in the below 18 years while 202 (112 males, 88 females) were in the 18 years and above 18 years age groups.

RESULTS: Age of the study group was 32±0.6. Prick test was positive in 114 (44%) pediatric patients while it was positive in 78 (48%) adult patients. There was no significant difference between the pediatric and adult groups in terms of prick test positivity that was evaluated as sensitivity to at least one allergen (p=0.67). In both groups, house dust allergy was observed the most statistically. In the adult group, more prick test positivity was observed in terms of cockroach, tree pollen and olive tree allergies compared to the pediatric group. In our region where temperature and humidity are high, house dust mite, cockroach and mold allergies were more than herb/tree allergy in both groups.

CONCLUSION: The increase in allergy prevalence as the duration of environmental exposure is prolonged shows the effect of environmental factors on allergic diseases.