Chapt. 8: Allergic Rhinitis and Conjunctivitis Flashcards
What percentage of patients with allergic rhinitis have associated symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis?
50-60%
The presence of rhinitis has significant effects on the development and severity of what other disorders?
Bronchial asthma
Sinusitis
Middle ear disease
Dental malocclusion
What are the 2 most common rhinitis syndromes?
Allergic rhinitis
Idiopathic rhinitis
How to differentiate between the 2 rhinitis syndromes?
Assessment of specific IgE
What remains the only disease-modifying treatment capable of causing long-term improvement with respect to nasal symptoms and reduction in incident cases of asthma?
Allergen immunotherapy
Where has the incidence of allergic rhinitis increased?
Mostly in Westernized countries with a higher standard of living
What are the risk factors for the development of allergic rhinitis?
Increased Risk
- female gender
- particulate air pollution
- maternal smoking
Decreased Risk
- Increased number of siblings
- grass pollen exposure
- farm environment
- mediterranean diet
May play a key role in determining QOL, in that it may lead to daytime fatigue and poor concentration in school, resulting in learning impairment.
Sleep loss
What percentage of patients with chronic rhinitis have asthma? What percentage of patients with asthma suffer with persistent nasal symptoms?
40%, 80%
What is an important risk factor for worsening asthma in patients who have both rhinitis and asthma?
Nasal disease
What is the percentage of patients who suffer from rhinosinusitis have allergic rhinitis?
30% of patients with acute sinusitis
67% with unilateral chronic sinusitis
80% with bilateral chronic sinusitis
How does nasal allergy precipitate acute sinusitis?
Inducing sinus ostial edema, resulting in an impairment of sinus drainage, a shift to anaerobic conditions inside of the sinus cavity, and of bacterial proliferation
Why does a considerable proportion of patients with allergic rhinitis have concomitant OME?
Pollen exposure causes ETD, which induces negative pressure in the middle ear space, followed by transudation of fluid
Why do some children with allergic rhinitis have dental malocclusion?
Persistent, severe rhinitis in children may also cause chronic mouth breathing, particularly at night, which has been linked to alterations in the palatal anatomy and dental malocclusion
This upregulates adhesion molecules on the vascular endothelium, and possible on marginating leukocytes, and lead to the migration of these inflammatory cells, including lymphocytes, eosinophils, and basophils, into the site of tissue inflammation.
Cytokines
Role of the nervous system in allergic reactions?
Amplifying and perpetuating allergic reactions
Why are allergic patients more responsive to stimuli to which they are exposed every day?
Inflammatory changes by cytokines lower the threshold of mucosal responsiveness to various specific and non-specific stimuli
What is the pattern of congestion in allergic rhinitis?
Frequently alternates between both sides of the nose as a function of the physiologic nasal cycle.
What is the pattern of sneezing in allergic disease?
Explosive paroxysms of 5 to 10 sneezes or more.
Characteristic of secretions in allergic rhinitis?
Clear to white in color, and the presence of purulent secretions strongly indicates the possibility of chronic sinusitis or atrophic rhinitis.
What is the percentage of patients with allergic rhinitis who have ocular s/s such as redness, itching, and watering?
Half
When should a primary central nervous system lesion be considered?
When anosmia is the most prominent symptom and nasal or ocular symptoms are minimal or absent
When are symptoms of allergic rhinitis the most intense?
During early morning hours as a consequence of circadian variations in inflammation
What are some causes of non-allergic rhinitis?
Changes in climatic factors, such as temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure
What are some facial abnormalities noted in children with allergic rhinitis?
Retracted mandible, high-arched palate
What is the appearance of the nasal mucosa in patients with symptomatic allergic rhinitis?
Swollen and pale in color
What is the appearance of the nasal mucosa in patients with symptomatic idiopathic rhinitis?
Pink or erythematous mucous membranes
When should the physician consider the possibility of atrophic rhinitis?
Crusting, particularly with dried blood
What is “allergic shiners” an what is the pathophysiology?
Cyanosis of the infraorbital tissues, thought to be caused by venous stasis and may be seen with any chronic nasal or sinus disorder and is not pathognomonic for allergy.
What are the normally unseen regions during fiberoptic rhinoscopy?
Posterior nasal septum, superior nasal turbinates, middle meatus, adenoid gland, eustachian tube orifice
What is considered to provide the best combination of sensitivity and specificity in allergy skin testing?
Skin prick method
What is local allergic rhinitis (or entopy)?
Specific IgE can only be identified in the nose.
How to clinically confirm the diagnosis of LAR?
Nasal allergen challenge
What is the most accurate test for evaluating possible inflammation of the paranasal sinuses?
CT
What can be seen on CT scan?
Mild mucoperiosteal thickening can be seen in patients with uncomplicated allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis
When should radiographic studies be considered in patients with rhinitis?
Considered in patients with symptoms that are not typical of rhinitis and are unresponsive to medical therapy, such as chronic purulent rhinorrhea, alterations in sense of smell, or headaches
What are the differential diagnosis of chronic rhinitis? (Allergic)
Systemic
Local (entopy)
What are the differential diagnosis of chronic rhinitis? (Work-related)
Irritant
Corrosive
Immunologic
What are the differential diagnosis of chronic rhinitis? (Rhinosinusitis)
Allergic
Non-allergic
What are the differential diagnosis of chronic rhinitis? (Non-allergic)
Idiopathic (vasomotor) Non-allergic with eosinophilia Atrophic - primary/secondary Medication related Topical vasoconstrictors (rhinitis medicantosa) - oral medications Excercise-induced Cold air-induced Gustatory Hormonal Aging Systemic disease
What characterizes work-related rhinitis?
Intermittent or persistent nasal symptoms attributable to exposures incurred in a particular work environment`
What is the etiology of work-related rhinitis?
- Immunologic hypersensitivity, including the presence of IgE
- Non-allergic
What are the occupations that carry a high risk for development of work-related rhinitis?
Laboratory workers
Furriers
Bakers
What is the typical history of work-related rhinitis?
Symptomatic worsening during the work week, with improvement over he weekend and during vacations, when the putative trigger is absent
What occupations have irritant-exposure rhinitis?
Drywall installer - Gypsum powder
Makeup artist - Cosmetic powder, perfume
What occupations have corrosive-exposure rhinitis?
Janitor - Ammonia
Chemistry technician - Hydrochloric acid
What occupations have immunologic-exposure rhinitis?
IgE: Baker - grain flour Furrier, livestock breeder, veterinarian - animal dander Food processing worker - Foodstuffs Pharmacist - Medication powders
LMW substances:
Boat builder - anhydrides
What is CRS?
Inflammatory disease of the PNS that has been present for 12 weeks or longer
What are the four cardinal symptoms of CRS?
Mucopurulent drainage
Nasal obstruction
Facial discomfort
Decreased sense of smell
(2 of these must be present, along with CT or endoscopic evidence of sinus mucosal inflammation in order to establish this diagnosis)
What percentage of patients with CRS present with nasal polyps, which are likely to cause anosmia?
Up to 1/3
Another name for idiopathic non-allergic rhinitis?
Vasomotor rhinitis
What is the manifestation of vasomotor rhinitis?
Chronic or intermittent symptoms of nasal congestion and/or water rhinorrhea that worsen acutely in response to non-specific provocateurs, including cold air, exercise, pungent odors, smoke, alcohol, and specific physiologic states, such as sexual arousal and emotional upset.
What is gustatory rhinitis?
Eating causes isolated watery discharge
What are the laboratory tests for patients with idiopathic rhinitis?
Patients have negative responses on skin or blood tests for specific IgE, including to potential food allergens, although occasionally patients may exhibit a small number of positive reactions that are considered clinically irrelevant.
What proportion of patients with non-allergic rhinitis have an increased percentage of eosinophils in nasal mucosa?
Non-allergic rhinitis with eosinophilia or eosinophilic non-allergic rhinitis
What is atrophic Rhinitis?
Chronic condition characterized by symptoms of nasal crusting, purulent discharge, nasal obstruction, and halitosis.
Where is primary atrophic rhinitis most prevalent?
In areas with prolonged warm seasons, including South Asia and the middle East and is more common in women
What is the cause of primary atrophic rhinitis?
No known specific cause, many patients are found to have chronic bacterial infection of the nose and sinuses, due to any number of organisms, the most common of which is Klebsiella ozaenae.
What are some causes of secondary atrophic rhinitis?
Patients who have undergone multiple or aggressive nasal surgeries, nasal trauma, or nasal irradiation; in the case of nasal surgery, it has been referred to “empty nose sydrome”. This is the more common form of the disease in the developed world
What is the cause of rebound congestion with repetitive use of alpha-adrenergic decongestant nasal sprays (e.g. oxymetazoline, phenylephrine) for more than a few days?
Secondary to a downregulation of the alpha-agonist receptor
What is the manifestation of rhinitis medicantosa?
Severe nasal congestion without other significant symptoms
What has also been implicated in causing rhinitis medicantosa but usually results in significantly more crusting, bleeding, and ultimately septal perforation than topical decongestant drugs?
Cocaine
What are the PE findings in patients with rhinitis medicantosa?
Swollen, red nasal mucous membranes with minimal discharge
What are the general classes of medications that have been implicated in causing rhinitis symptoms?
Antihypertensives
Drugs for erectile dysfunction
Psychiatric drugs
NSAIDs
What are examples of Antihypertensives that can cause rhinitis? (6)
ACEI B-adrenergic blockers Amiloride Prazosin Hydralazine
What are examples of Psychotropics that can cause rhinitis? (3)
Risperidone
Chlorpromazine
Amitriptyline