Skin Prick Test Profile in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis: A Cross-Sectional Study in Western Nepal

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common health problem in Western Nepal, often underdiagnosed and mismanaged due to limited allergen identification. This study aimed to determine the common allergens causing sensitization among patients with clinically diagnosed allergic rhinitis using Skin Prick Test (SPT).
Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from Feb 2014 to Feb 2020 at Nepalgunj Medical College, Nepalgunj, Banke, Nepal. Patients with symptoms suggestive of AR underwent SPT using a panel of 48 common allergens. The patients with wheal on at least one allergen during the test were included. Patients having no wheal on all tested allergens were excluded and advised for workup to rule out other diseases simulating allergic rhinitis.  Results were interpreted according to standard wheal size criteria.
Results: Out of 132 patients, 79 (59.8%) were male and 53 (40.1%) were female patients. The age ranges from 14 to 54 years with average being 28.54years.  The most common allergens were house dust mite (Dermatophagoidespteronyssinus) (72%), cockroach extract (42%), Parthenium hysterophorus pollen (18%), wheat (17.4%), Candida albicans (15%) and peanut (14%). Multiple allergen sensitization was seen in 103 (78.0%) of the above patients with positive result in SPT.
Conclusion: House dust mite, cockroach and Parthenium pollen are the leading allergens among AR patients in the Western region of Nepal.
Keywords: allergen, allergic rhinitis, hypersensitivity, skin prick test