LATEX sensitization in elderly: allergological study and diagnostic protocol.

Background: The prevalence of latex allergy varies according to the population studied from 3% to 64%. No data exist in the present literature about elderly people because they were not considered among populations at risk. We report a retrospective observational study of 88 elderly patients of our centre of Dermatology and Allergology at Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome, Sapienza.Results: First and second level diagnostic tests showed latex positivity in 11,4% of patients studied for latex allergy in the elderly population.Conclusions: Our study demonstrates a prevalence of elderly-latex sensitization of 11,4%, showing that allergy to latex is a growing disease that can occur at any age. So, we propose these patients as an additional risk category for latex allergy. © 2014 Grieco et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Registry on assessing the quality of life improvement with triamcinolone in the treatment of moderate-to-severe persistent allergic rhinitis in egyptian patients

En Abstract Background Allergic rhinitis is a common disorder that can significantly impact the quality of life of patient. It is strongly linked to asthma and conjunctivitis. The classic symptoms of the disorder are nasal congestion and itching, rhinorrhea, and sneezing. Currently, steroids have played a role in the management of allergic rhinitis. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of triamcinolone in the treatment of allergic rhinitis in Egypt. Patients and methods A total of 308 Egyptian patients who were suffering from moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis and were prescribed triamcinolone were enrolled. The improvement in the quality of life of patients receiving triamcinolone after 4 weeks of treatment was assessed using the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ). All adverse events were recorded during the study duration. Results The RQLQ showed a significant improvement in the quality of life of patients after using triamcinolone. The mean RQLQ score before triamcinolone administration was 2.99±1.015 versus 0.68±0.706 after 4 weeks of treatment (P<0.001), with a mean percent reduction of −76.78±23.62%. The individual domain scores of the RQLQ after 4 weeks of treatment showed a significant improvement in the level of all domains. No adverse events were reported and the drug showed a high tolerability profile. Conclusion Triamcinolone is considered an efficient and safe drug in the management of allergic rhinitis. It has a positive impact on the quality of life of patients with moderate-to-severe persistent allergic rhinitis under conditions of daily practice in patients receiving triamcinolone after 4 weeks of treatment