The inner ear in patients with nasal allergy.

J Natl Med Assoc

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Published: August 2008

Background: The endolymphatic sac has been proposed as a target organ responsible for inner-ear symptom in allergic subjects. This is a report of inner-ear symptoms in patients with nasal allergy.

Method: Retrospective review of record charts of patients with known nasal allergy presenting to the otorhinolaryngology out-patient department of the University College Hospital, Ibadan in 5 years.

Result: Ear symptoms were found in 95/144 (66%) subjects with nasal allergy. This comprises of 41 males and 44 females (M: F = 1:1). Of these, itching of the external ear canal, hearing loss and tinnitus accounted for 63 (66%), 55 (58%) and 39 (41%), respectively, while vertigo was found in 12 (13%). Peripheral vestibular signs of imbalance were seen in 11/95. The audiological assessment of 73 subjects revealed normal pure-tone average in 43 (59%), and sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) in 17 (23.3%). The severity of SHL was mild in 6/17, moderate in 7 and moderate-to-severe in 4. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were elevated in 10/15 (67%) and 6/15 (40%), while the skin sensitivity test showed reactions to dust in 32, cold in 25, cockroach in 7, perfume in 11, vegetable oil in 1 and insecticide in 2. The clinical diagnoses were idiopathic tinnitus in 25 (26.3%), Idiopathic SHL in 17 (18%), cochlear hydrop in 6 (6%) and autoimmune inner-ear disease in 6 (6%).

Conclusion: This report suggests some peculiar predisposition to inner-ear pathology in patients with nasal allergy. However a longitudinal assessment of cochleovestibular features of nasal allergy subjects will help in its validation.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0027-9684(15)31403-6DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

nasal allergy
20
patients nasal
16
hearing loss
8
nasal
6
allergy
5
inner ear
4
patients
4
ear patients
4
allergy background
4
background endolymphatic
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!