The inner ear in patients with nasal allergy.
BACKGROUND
The endolymphatic sac has been proposed as a target organ responsible for inner-ear symptom in allergic subjects. This is a report of inner-ear symptoms in patients with nasal allergy.


METHODS
Retrospective review of record charts of patients with known nasal allergy presenting to the otorhinolaryngology out-patient department of the University College Hospital, Ibadan in 5 years.


RESULTS
Ear symptoms were found in 95/144 (66%) subjects with nasal allergy. This comprises of 41 males and 44 females (M: F = 1:1). Of these, itching of the external ear canal, hearing loss and tinnitus accounted for 63 (66%), 55 (58%) and 39 (41%), respectively, while vertigo was found in 12 (13%). Peripheral vestibular signs of imbalance were seen in 11/95. The audiological assessment of 73 subjects revealed normal pure-tone average in 43 (59%), and sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) in 17 (23.3%). The severity of SHL was mild in 6/17, moderate in 7 and moderate-to-severe in 4. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were elevated in 10/15 (67%) and 6/15 (40%), while the skin sensitivity test showed reactions to dust in 32, cold in 25, cockroach in 7, perfume in 11, vegetable oil in 1 and insecticide in 2. The clinical diagnoses were idiopathic tinnitus in 25 (26.3%), Idiopathic SHL in 17 (18%), cochlear hydrop in 6 (6%) and autoimmune inner-ear disease in 6 (6%).


CONCLUSIONS
This report suggests some peculiar predisposition to inner-ear pathology in patients with nasal allergy. However a longitudinal assessment of cochleovestibular features of nasal allergy subjects will help in its validation.
Lasisi
Akeem O
AO
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. akeemlasisi@gmail.com
Abdullahi
Mohammed
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000453:epidemiology
D002097:C-Reactive Protein