Allergic rhinitis and its associated co-morbidities among patients
attending the ENT department at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center in
Northern Tanzania: Cross sectional study.
Abstract
Background: Allergic rhinitis is the specific inflammation
against allergen by immune defense cells on nasal mucosa, which can lead
to chronic nasal symptoms such as sneezing, itching, runny nose, and
nasal congestion. it is associated with high morbidities including
sinusitis, asthma, otitis media, hypertrophied inferior turbinate and
nasal polyp. Despite its complications, it remains poorly recognized and
tracked. Methods: A cross-sectional hospital based study was
done, a total of 221 patients received ORL services at Kilimanjaro
Christian medical Centre during study period were interviewed all
patients with a clinical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis were captured;
Data was collected using a pre-tested coded questionnaire (SFAR) The
data was then analyzed by SPSS version 22. Results: A total of
221 patients with clinical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis were
approached in Six (6) months study period, 111 (50.2%) were females,
140 (63.4%) were residing in urban areas. The prevalence of allergic
rhinitis was 23.9%. Factors such as age OR 0.12, 95% C.I (0.03; 0.40),
education OR 0.13, 95% C.I (0.04; 0.44), occupation OR 3.75, 95% C.I
(1.36; 10.32), Adenotonsillar hypertrophy OR 4.66, 95% C.I (2.21; 9.80)
and OME OR 4.11, 95% C.I (1.32; 12.83) (p=0.009) was found to be
significantly associated with allergic rhinitis. 60.4%, Inferior
turbinate hypertrophy was the leading co-morbidity of allergic rhinitis
which accounts 64.7%. Conclusion: Allergic rhinitis is among
the common health problems affecting Tanzanians. It is a commonly seen
disorder in younger age (<15 yrs) which is in correlation with
other studies done in Africa and worldwide.