Screening of allergic rhinitis

The author, in an attempt to define the most suitable means for the preclinical diagnosis of allergic rhinopathy, submitted 1620 pupils from seven different state schools to examination. Their parents were asked to fill in a questionnaire through which 370 were considered to be "at risk". All children underwent scratch skin tests: 73 with positive skin reactions also underwent nasal examination, measurement of immunoglobulins in nasal secretion, rhinomanometry, nasal exposition tests, determination of blocking antibodies and radiological examination of the paranasal sinuses. RAST was carried out in 30 cases. After the analysis of the clinical data, the author came to the conclusion that the tests of nasal conductance and provocation, of mucociliary clearance and determination of blocking antibodies are adequate means for the long term study of allergic rhinitis and for the follow-up of contingent hyposensitization therapy. As far as the preclinical diagnosis is concerned the skin tests and the radiological examination of the paranasal sinuses are to be considered more specific than RAST which, in the population sample taken into consideration, was positive exclusively in those cases that already had a manifest symptom complex.