A Crystal Clear Picture of Age and Gender Specific Incidence of Severe Persistent Allergic Rhinitis and Triggers of Allergic Rhinitis in Central India

The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) is associated with various environmental allergens, and the. Level of exposure occurs through inhalation or ingestion. It is clear from several studies and guidelines that screening and identifying various allergens in a particular region can facilitate in diagnosing, treating, and formulating preventive strategies against AR. To study the incidence of severe persistent allergic rhinitis across different age groups and genders, and to identify the allergens responsible for triggering this condition in Central India. The study included 2097 patients of either sex, aged 5 to 70 years suffering from severe persistent allergic rhinitis from January 2003 to Dec 2023. Selection of study group was as per ARIA classification. Modified Skin Prick Test was performed according to the method of Pepys and Bernstein. Study indicates that in Central India, the common allergens responsible for causing severe persistent allergic rhinitis are pre dominantly aero allergens (86%) and food allergens (14%). The three most common aero allergens are house dust mite (D. farinae) (47.97%), housefly (26.23%), and mosquito (25.99%). Among pollens, the most common are Ricinus communis (10.01%), Prosopis juliflora (8.30%), and Gynandropis gynandra (7.15%). Among food allergens, the most common are baker’s yeast (2.48%), almond (1.67%), and milk (1.62%). The findings of the study were highly beneficial for counseling on avoidance therapy and making decisions about allergen – specific immunotherapy, which is currently the standard treatment protocol to alter the natural progression of allergic rhinitis.