What do patients with chronic rhinitis do with their disease?
There are numerous patients suffering from chronic rhinitis. What kind of doctors do they consult? What are their symptoms? What kind of examinations do they do? What kind of medication do they use? Are they ever treated surgically? The objective of this study was to give answers to such questions. This is a study of 269 patients suffering from chronic rhinitis aged from 3 to 72 years. Of the 269 patients, 198 had already visited another physician before consulting us. The most common symptom was nasal obstruction. The most commonly used oral medication was antihistamines, whereas the most commonly used topical medication was sympathomimetic agents. Additionally, 2.2% of them had used natural herbs intranasally, herbs they had collected by themselves and not sold in drugstores. The operation most commonly performed was polypectomy. Sufferers from rhinitis most commonly consult general practitioners. The percentage of patients using alternative medication is limited in comparison with other studies.
Bardanis
J
J
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, General Hospital of Ikaria, Ikaria, Greece.
Batzakakis
D
D
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000628:therapy*; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D013566:Sympathomimetics