title: Profile of Patients with Allergic Rhinitis (AR): A Clinic Based Cross-Sectional Study from Kolkata, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic Rhinitis (AR) though quite common in India, does not receive its due importance as it deserves.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the demographic and clinical profile of the patients with AR and to find the association of pre-dominant disease symptoms with common allergens, type and severity of the disease and other co-morbidities.
  
  
  METHODS
  This clinic-based cross-sectional, observational study was conducted among adult patients presenting with signs and symptoms suggestive of AR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive 548 patients were initially screened for possible cases of AR by proper history taking and physical examination and confirmation was done by a battery of investigations, including modified skin prick test. A total of 462 patients who were finally diagnosed with AR were included in the study. Categorization of these patients was done following Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines. Pulmonary function tests and X-ray/CT-scan of the para-nasal sinuses were done to confirm the presence of bronchial asthma and sinusitis, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS version 10). Z-test was applied to compare between two rates, at 5% level of significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proportion of "blockers" was found to be much higher than that of "sneezers-runners" (64.1% vs. 35.9%). "Blockers" had significantly more sensitization to polyvalent house dust, house dust mites and fungi (p < 0.05), while, "sneezers-runners" had more sensitization to pollens (p < 0.05). Significantly more "blockers" had "moderate/severe persistent" and "mild persistent" types of the disease (p < 0.05), while "mild intermittent" and moderate/severe intermittent" type of disease were significantly more common among "sneezers-runners" (p < 0.05). Both bronchial asthma and sinusitis were significantly more common among the "blockers" (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded from the present study that the clinical profiles of the two main categories of AR namely "sneezers-runners" and "blockers" were distinct from each other. This knowledge can be useful to physicians at all levels for better management of patients with AR.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of General Medicine, Mata Gujri Memorial Medical College and L.S.K Hospital , Kishanganj, Bihar, India and Consultant, Lifestyle Clinic: Allergy, Asthma and COPD care unit, Kolkata, West Bengal, India .
authors.forename: Animesh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deb
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Calcutta National Medical College & Hospital , Kolkata, West Bengal, India .
authors.forename: Shuvankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of General Medicine, North Bengal Medical College & Hospital , Siliguri, West Bengal,India .
authors.forename: Bikram Kumar
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of General Medicine, Bankura Sammilani Medical College & Hospital , Bankura, West Bengal, India .
authors.forename: Biswanath Sharma
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of General Medicine, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research , Kolkata, West Bengal, India .
authors.forename: Jyotirmay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.affiliation: Allergy Specialist, Belle View Clinic , Kolkata, West Bengal, India .
authors.forename: Naren
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.affiliation: Senior Consultant, Department of ENT, ESI Hospital , Asansol, West Bengal, India .
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Nandi
authors.affiliation: Consultant Biotechnologist, Department of Biotechnology, Asansol, West Bengal, India .
authors.forename: Sayantani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nandi
keywords: Allergens; Allergic Rhinitis; Asthma; Blockers; Sinusitis; Sneezer-runners