title: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a multifactorial disease. Allergies are considered a predisposing factor to CRS; however, this remains controversial. The objective of this research was to investigate the prevalence of co-morbidities and allergic reaction, and to specify the most common allergens in patients with confirmed CRS.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred patients with signs and symptoms of CRS who met the diagnostic endoscopic and radiologic criteria of chronic rhinosinusitis were selected. They filled out a questionnaire and underwent a skin prick test for the common inhalant allergens. Allergic rhinitis was diagnosed according to the history and positive skin prick tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients was 34. Males were slightly more involved (54%). The prevalence of polypoid and none-polypoid rhinosinusitis was 54% and 46% respectively. The patients' most common symptoms were nasal discharge (95%), blockage (94%), smell disorders (63%), cough (45%), halitosis (41%), lethargy (37%), and aural fullness (36%). Allergy to at least one allergen was noted in 64% of the CRS patients which is higher than general population in Mashhad, Iran with allergic rhinitis (22.4%). Salsola was the most common allergen. There was no significant difference in allergic reactions between polypoid and non-polypoid CRS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergic reactions was found in Iranian CRS patients with or without polyposis to be much higher than general population in Mashhad with allergic rhinitis alone.
authors.affiliation: Sinus and Surgical Endoscopic Research Center, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakhshaee
authors.affiliation: Allergy Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Farahzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jabari
authors.affiliation: Sinus and Surgical Endoscopic Research Center, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Mehdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ghassemi
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hourzad
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Caribbean Medical University, Curacao.
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deutscher
authors.forename: Kianoosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nahid
keywords: Allergy; Chronic rhinosinusitis; Polyposis; Skin prick test