Local allergic rhinitis: nasal allergen provocation testing as a good tool in the differential diagnosis

Local allergic rhinitis (LAR) is a specific phenotype of allergic rhinitis. One characteristic feature of LAR is a medical history indicative of an allergic disease, negative skin-prick test results, undetectable levels of specific IgE, and a positive allergen-specific nasal provocation test. This paper presents a case of a patient with LAR and underlying house dust mite allergy, who was ultimately diagnosed >10 years after the onset of his first symptoms. Currently, there are only pharmacological treatments available for LAR. However, some studies show encouraging results with the use of allergen-specific immunotherapy in LAR, which offer hope for a future use of this causative treatment in LAR patients

Evaluation of selected aspects of the hygiene hypothesis and their effect on the incidence of allergy

Objectives The development of allergic conditions is largely dependent on the interactions between genetic (individual genetic predisposition) and environmental factors (exposure to risk factors). The aim of this study was an attempt to assess the influence of selected elements of the hygiene theory in the development of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. Material and Methods The study group consisted of 5518 women and 3868 men. The method that was used was the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II and International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire validated and adapted to Central and Eastern European conditions. The project was conducted in 8 urban areas (Gdańsk, Wrocław, Poznań, Katowice, Kraków, Lublin, Białystok, Warsaw) and 1 rural area (Krasnystaw county). This study had 2 stages; the first stage involved grouping the 22 500 respondents based on their questionnaire responses with the use of a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA); the second stage involved 7000 subjects, who underwent additional assessments: skin prick tests (birch, grasses/cereals, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae, molds [set I: Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium herbarum, Alternaria tenuis, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium moniliforme, Helminthosporium], molds [set II: Aspergillus fumigatus, Mucor mucedo, Penicillium notatum, Pullularia pullulans, Rhizopus nigricans, Serpula lacrymans], cat, dog, molds Cladosporium herbarum, Alternaria tenuis) and spirometry tests. Results The age at which children attend the nursery school is critical to the development of allergic diseases; in allergic rhinitis, the risk of an IgE-dependent reaction is 2 times higher in the second than in the first year of life (p = 0.00147, p < 0.05), while in asthma, having a large number of siblings increases the risk of developing obstructive disease by almost 6 times (p = 0.00316, p < 0.05).The age at which children attend the nursery school is critical to the development of allergic diseases; in allergic rhinitis, the risk of an IgE-dependent reaction is 2 times higher in the second than in the first year of life (p = 0.00147, p < 0.05), while in asthma, having a large number of siblings increases the risk of developing obstructive disease by almost 6 times (p = 0.00316, p < 0.05). Conclusions The hygiene theory is particularly applicable and can explain the relationship of selected habits in the development of allergic diseases. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(1):69–8

Postępowanie w przypadkach wznowy brodawczaka odwróconego nosa i zatok przynosowych po leczeniu operacyjnym w materiale Kliniki Otolaryngologii Warszawskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego

Introduction: Inverted papilloma is benign epidermal neoplasm of not recognized etiology. The lesion is estimated to represent 0.5-4% of sinonasal tumors. Generally inverted papilloma is unilateral, arises from the lateral nasal wall and characterizes with local destruction and rapid growth. The tumor can possibly undergo malignant transformation. The treatment of choice is surgery, recently endoscopic approach is considered to be superior to the open approach. The aim of study: was evaluation of recurrent inverted papilloma treatment results in the experience of Otolaryngology Department, Medical University of Warsaw, from 1982 to 2009. Material: The group of 124 patient (66 men and 58 women) aged from 26 to 79 with inverted papilloma operated between 1982 and 2009 were enrolled in the study. Follow up was from 6 months to 27 years. Results: Most common primary localization of the tumor was combined lateral nasal wall and maxillary sinus (42%). In 37% the lesion involved unilaterally the lateral nasal wall, maxillary sinus and ethmoid sinuses, rarely it was localized only in the lateral nasal wall (16.1%) and exclusively in the nasal septum (4.8%). All the patients were treated surgically, 46% of patients underwent endoscopic procedure, 37.1% lateral rhinotomy, 15% Denker rhinotomy and 1.6% midfacial degloving. Recurrence was observed in 15.3% including 57.9% after endoscopic surgery, 26% after Denker operation and 15.8% after lateral rhinotomy. Malignant transformation was observed in 5 patient (4%). All the patients with recurrent inverted papilloma were treated surgically, 5.3% of patient underwent midfacial degloving, 5.3% Caldwell- Luc operation, 10.5% endoscopic procedure, 26.3% Denker operation and 52.6% lateral rhinotomy. Conclusions: 1. Endonasal and open approach should be considered in the surgical treatment of recurrent inverted papilloma. 2. Endoscopic approach is preferred in the recent years but qualification for each method should depend on lesion localization, extent and volume. 3. Regular follow-up enables early recurrence diagnosis and treatment

Dissociating polysensitization and multimorbidity in children and adults from a Polish general population cohort

International audienceBackground: Links between multimorbidity of allergic diseases and allergen sensitization are still under debate, especially in adults. This study aimed to establish a relationship between polysensitization and allergic multimorbidity in children and adults and the allergens involved in multimorbidity.Material and method: A cross-sectional multicentre study enrolled children aged 6-7 and 13-14 years and adults aged 20-44 years from a Polish national cohort. The diagnosis of allergic diseases was made by a physician. Skin prick tests to 13 allergens and serum IgE levels to 4 allergens were tested.Results: Among the 3856 participants, single disease (asthma, allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis) was diagnosed in 27.7% subjects and allergic multimorbidity in 9.3%. Allergic multimorbidity occurred more commonly in children than in adults (p < 0.01). Asthma or atopic dermatitis alone were not associated with polysensitization. Rhinitis and multimorbidity were associated with polysensitization. Allergic multimorbidity occurred in 2.2% of participants with negative skin prick tests, 9.8% of those with one positive prick test (SPT ≥ 3 mm) and 20.6% of polysensitized ones (p < 0.001). There was an increasing risk of multimorbidity depending on the number of positive prick tests for both SPT ≥ 3 mm (OR 9.6-16.5) and SPT ≥ 6 mm (OR 5.9-13.7). A statistically significant relationship was found between allergic multimorbidity and sensitization to cat and mite allergens.Conclusions: Multimorbidity is associated with polysensitization especially in children compared with adults in Polish population cohort. New insights into single disease patterns were found: bronchial asthma is the strongest risk factor for the development of multimorbidity in comparison with allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis

Selected aspects of allergy nursing

Introduction. Due to their dynamic character, allergic conditions pose challenges for modern medicine and constitute a public health problem. Nearly 40% of the general Polish population is estimated to suffer from an allergy. We would like to emphasize that allergies are not some extraordinary ailments; instead, they commonly coincide with or are complications of other systemic conditions. Hence, national health policies should prioritize the development and implementation of ready-to-use protocols that focus mainly on prevention rather than treatment