KARACHI - Allergic Rhinitis or Hay Fever is the most common allergy in Pakistan, affecting 24.62 percent Pakistanis while Sindh being on top with 27.92 percent prevalence.
This was revealed by health experts in a press briefing held to mark the start of allergy season in Pakistan.
Dr Umar Farooq, seasoned ENT specialist and Professor at Dow University of Health Sciences, said Hay Fever was caused when one breathed in something to which he or she was allergic, and inside of the nose becomes inflamed and swollen.
Allergic rhinitis is clinically defined as a symptomatic disorder of the nose and is characterised by nasal symptoms, including rhinorrhoea (runny nose), sneezing, nasal blockage and itching of the nose.
“It is often associated with ocular symptoms,” he added.
“Allergic rhinitis is an important health problem because of its prevalence and its impact on patients’ social life, school performance and work productivity,” he said, adding, “The symptoms of AR are not limited to the physical effects on the nose and eyes but also involve adverse consequences on quality of life, including psychological well-being and the ability to learn and process cognitive input.”
Seasoned ENT specialist and Professor at Dow University of Health Sciences, while highlighting the disease’s impact said that Allergic Rhinitis reduced learning ability in children.
“88 percent of pediatric AR patients have sleep disorders. The presence of AR often precedes the development of asthma,” he informed the gathering.
Dr Kalimullah Thaheem, Seasoned ENT Consultant at South City Hospital, said, ‘Allergic rhinitis was triggered by allergens, and allergens can be found both outdoors and indoors.
