Question

Improvements in the treatment of allergic rhinitis

Answer 1

A simple and safe method of nasal provocation for out-patients that requires no special equipment is described. A total of 2,645 cases were tested by nasal provocation tests. Of the total, 1,175 were tested with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, 825 with mixed grass pollens, 352 with plantain (Plantago lanceolata), and 125 for cats and correlating nasal tests with skin tests yielded 80%, 90%, and 85%, respectively. Immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis was only considered justifiable when the nasal provocation test was positive. The nasal provocation test was repeated at the end of the normal course of injections recommended by the manufacturer. If the nasal provocation test was still positive, further injections were given until the test became negative.