The skin prick test results of 977 patients suffering from chronic rhinitis in Hong Kong.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of aetiological allergens identifiable by skin prick test alone in patients suffering from chronic rhinitis in Hong Kong, and also compare the clinical history and symptoms of skin prick test-positive versus skin prick test-negative patients.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Otorhinolaryngology clinic in Queen Mary Hospital of Hong Kong.


METHODS
A total of 977 patients suffering from chronic rhinitis were recruited into the study. Skin prick test was performed with a panel of allergens including house dust mites, cockroach, cat, dog, moulds, and pollens.


METHODS
Skin prick test results and their correlation with symptoms.


RESULTS
Of the 977 patients, 651 (67%) had positive skin prick test reactions. The commonest allergen was house dust mite which was positive in 63% of the 977 patients and 95% of those 651 skin prick test-positive patients. The other allergens were in order of cockroach (23%), cat (14%), dog (5%), pollen (4%), and mould (3%). Compared with skin prick test-negative patients, skin prick test-positive patients were more likely to have earlier age of onset of the chronic rhinitis, association with asthma, more severe symptom in the morning, more severe symptoms of itchy nose, sneezing, nasal discharge, itchy eye, and watery eye.


CONCLUSIONS
Identifiable aeroallergens could be detected in 67% chronic rhinitis patients by skin prick test alone. House dust mites were the most prevalent causative allergen. There were significant differences of patterns of clinical history and symptoms severity between skin prick test-positive and skin prick test-negative patients.
Yuen
Anthony P W
AP
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. pwyuen@hkucc.hku.hk
Cheung
S
S
Tang
K C
KC
Ho
W K
WK
Wong
Birgitta Y H
BY
Cheung
Amy C S
AC
Ho
Ambrose C W
AC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003058:Cockroaches; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D039981:Pyroglyphidae; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012882:Skin Tests
D000485:Allergens