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Non Allergic Rhinitis In Competitive Swimmers
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Non Allergic Rhinitis In Competitive Swimmers M. Gelardi1, M. Bonini2,3, S. Bonini3,4, T. Candreva1, M. Fiorella1, M. Ventura5; 1Dept. of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, University of Bari, Bari, ITALY, 2Institute of Sports Medicine, UCSC, Rome, ITALY, 3CNR, Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine, Rome, ITALY, 4Chair of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Second University of Naples, Naples, ITALY, 5Dept. of Internal Medicine, MIDIM, University of Bari, Bari, ITALY. RATIONALE: It is known that asthma is particularly frequent in swimmers and that chlorine inhalation induces asthma symptoms in both exposed workers and swimmers.We describe the high prevalence and features of a form of non allergic rhinitis in competitive swimmers exercising in chlorinated pools. METHODS: Fifty-four competitive swimmers (31 males and 23 females aged 7-27 years) training for 90-240 minutes 3-5 times a week in chlorinated pools, were evaluated for nasal symptoms through a validated questionnaire, nasal endoscopy, rhinomanometry and skin-prick tests with the most common inhalant allergens.
Abstracts S163
RESULTS: Forty subjects (74.0%) had symptoms of nasal obstruction and/or rhinorrea, sneezing, itching and burning of the nasal mucosa associated with functional and cytological signs of rhinitis.A typical allergic rhinitis could be documented by objective and subjective signs and symptoms as well as by positive skin tests in 16 of them. The non allergic rhinitis present in the remaining 24 competitive swimmers was shown to be a heterogeneous syndrome including infectious rhinosinusitis (2 cases), non allergic rhinitis with eosinophilia, NARES (2 cases) but, more frequently (20 cases), a neutrophilic rhinitis with prevalent nasal obstruction. The use of a nose-clip for 30 days during training significantly reduced symptoms and signs of rhinitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that rhinitis is extremely frequent in competitive swimmers training in chlorinated pools, possibly affecting their quality of life and performances. The majority of rhinitic swimmers has a typical form of non allergic ‘‘swimmer rhinitis’’ with prevalent nasal obstruction and neutrophilia, possibly due to chlorine exposure. Funding: Supported in part by grants of the Italian Institute of Health and the Italian Ministry of Health, Anti-Doping Commission
SUNDAY
J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL VOLUME 119, NUMBER 1
Non Allergic Rhinitis In Competitive Swimmers M. Gelardi1, M. Bonini2,3, S. Bonini3,4, T. Candreva1, M. Fiorella1, M. Ventura5; 1Dept. of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, University of Bari, Bari, ITALY, 2Institute of Sports Medicine, UCSC, Rome, ITALY, 3CNR, Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine, Rome, ITALY, 4Chair of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Second University of Naples, Naples, ITALY, 5Dept. of Internal Medicine, MIDIM, University of Bari, Bari, ITALY. RATIONALE: It is known that asthma is particularly frequent in swimmers and that chlorine inhalation induces asthma symptoms in both exposed workers and swimmers.We describe the high prevalence and features of a form of non allergic rhinitis in competitive swimmers exercising in chlorinated pools. METHODS: Fifty-four competitive swimmers (31 males and 23 females aged 7-27 years) training for 90-240 minutes 3-5 times a week in chlorinated pools, were evaluated for nasal symptoms through a validated questionnaire, nasal endoscopy, rhinomanometry and skin-prick tests with the most common inhalant allergens.
Abstracts S163
RESULTS: Forty subjects (74.0%) had symptoms of nasal obstruction and/or rhinorrea, sneezing, itching and burning of the nasal mucosa associated with functional and cytological signs of rhinitis.A typical allergic rhinitis could be documented by objective and subjective signs and symptoms as well as by positive skin tests in 16 of them. The non allergic rhinitis present in the remaining 24 competitive swimmers was shown to be a heterogeneous syndrome including infectious rhinosinusitis (2 cases), non allergic rhinitis with eosinophilia, NARES (2 cases) but, more frequently (20 cases), a neutrophilic rhinitis with prevalent nasal obstruction. The use of a nose-clip for 30 days during training significantly reduced symptoms and signs of rhinitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that rhinitis is extremely frequent in competitive swimmers training in chlorinated pools, possibly affecting their quality of life and performances. The majority of rhinitic swimmers has a typical form of non allergic ‘‘swimmer rhinitis’’ with prevalent nasal obstruction and neutrophilia, possibly due to chlorine exposure. Funding: Supported in part by grants of the Italian Institute of Health and the Italian Ministry of Health, Anti-Doping Commission
SUNDAY
J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL VOLUME 119, NUMBER 1