title: Diagnostic significance of nasal eosinophilia in allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nasal eosinophilia is one of the potential tests for substantiating the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to establish the validity of nasal eosinophilia in allergic rhinitis, to study it's various clinical correlates and interpret it in context of skin sensitivity pattern.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cased study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital based.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients were selected on the basis of history and clinical examination and were from the Himalayan region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnostic.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients and the equal number of controls, were subjected to nasal smear for eosinophilia and intra-dermal skin tests to various allergeus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, eighty percent of nasal smears were positive in various degrees among the cases. Around eighty-eight percent of cases showed both smear and skin test positivity, thereby signifying a high degree of harmony among them and further validating and confirming the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nasal eosinophilia was found to be a useful diagnostic test in allergic rhinitis, with a moderately high sensitivity and a high specificity.
authors.affiliation: IG Govt. Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh India.
authors.forename: Abhey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sood
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Nasal eosinophilia; Nasal smear