DOES IMMUNOTHERAPY IN ALLERGIC RHINITIS WITH INCREASED IGE LEVELS OFFER CONSISTENT RELIEF FROM NASAL SYMPTOMS, AN INSTITUTIONAL STUDY?

OBJECTIVES: 1. To evaluate the efficacy of Immunotherapy in improvement of nasal symptoms in patients with Allergic Rhinitis. 2. To evaluate the adverse reactions of Immunotherapy in patients suffering with allergic rhinitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study group included 138 patients with Allergic rhinitis, who presented in Department of ENT, during July 2011 to March 2014. Patients with clinical history of allergic rhinitis were screened with total serum IgE. Patients with elevated total serum IgE were investigated with skin prick test. Patients with positive skin reactions were treated with sub cutaneous immunotherapy. Development of adverse reactions during administration of immunotherapy was assessed. A follow up period of 18 months was considered for the study. A relief in clinical symptoms of allergic rhinitis at the end of 18 months was considered. CONCLUSION: Immunotherapy offers significant improvement in relief of clinical symptoms of allergic rhinitis with minimal adverse reactions over a long time. Total serum IgE forms an affective screening tool in diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. Immunotherapy appears as a safe alternative treatment for the management of allergic rhinitis.