Is orienteering associated with allergic rhinitis in adolescents?

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a disease that reduces athletic performance. Environmental allergen exposure is higher in outdoor sports (such as orienteering) than indoor sports. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the AR frequency in orienteers comparing with indoor athletes.

Methods: Sixty adolescent athletes (33 orienteers, 27 basketball players) enrolled this prospective study. AR diagnosis was made by both history (ISAAC questionnaire) and physical examination. Nasal endoscopy was performed to observe objective findings (concha hypertrophy, mucosal paleness, serosity, septum deviation, adenoid hypertrophy). Epidermal prick test, pulmonary function test, total IgE and serum eosinophil levels were also assessed.

Results: AR was diagnosed in 21 (35%) athletes. 14 (42.4%) were orienteers and 7 (25.9%) were basketball players (P=0.144). Endoscopic findings and skin test positivity were also seen at higher percentages in orienteers with no significance. Training age (sport duration), total IgE levels and skin test positivity were significantly higher in rhinitic orieenters than non-rhinitic orieenters (P=0.046, P=0.0001, and P=0.004, respectively).

Conclusions: Although adolescent orieenters had some higher allergic parameters than indoor athletes, they were not found more susceptible to AR. It seems that the frequency of AR increases with longer training age in orieentering sport. This study is the first report about AR in adolescent orienteers. Future researchs should more focus on comparing allergic conditions between outdoor and indoor sports.