title: [The indoor sport: is it a risk factor for allergic rhinitis?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The high prevalence of allergic rhinitis that occurs in elite athletes has been extensively investigated. However, data among recreational athletes practicing indoor activities remain contradictory. The aim of the present study was to determine whether taking part in gym based sporting activities constitutes a risk factor for allergic rhinitis in recreational athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 50 recreational athletes was examined. A specific questionnaire for the screening of allergic rhinitis and a battery of skin prick-tests to aeroallergens were administered to each participant. Measurements of nasal symptoms, peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) and lung function were also obtained before and after a training session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two percent of the participants were atopic, 18% suffered from allergic rhinitis. This prevalence is similar to that of the general population (16.9%). After exercise, nasal symptom prevalence did not change significantly. However, an improvement in nasal inspiratory flow was observed in 70% of the participants. No statistically significant change in lung function was noticed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that the occasional practice of sport in the gyms does not constitute a risk factor for atopy or allergic rhinitis. However, this kind of activity induces an increase in the nasal patency of both the healthy and the rhinitic subjects.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de physiologie-explorations fonctionnelles, faculté de médecine Ibn El Jazzar de Sousse, avenue Mohamed Karoui, 4002 Sousse, Tunisie. Electronic address: myriam_denguezli2@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Denguezli Bouzgarou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Ali
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Salem
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gaied
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aouichaoui
authors.forename: J-F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dessanges
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tabka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D056352:Athletes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013177:Sports; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Athlete; Atopie; Atopy; Débit de pointe inspiratoire nasal; Fonction nasale; Nasal function; Peak nasal inspiratory flow; Rhinite allergique; Sportif