Prevalence of Allergic Rhinitis between Urban and Rural Residents in a Local Community / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of allergic rhinitis between urban areas in the adjacent areas to a steel industrial complex and rural areas and the impact of pollutants in the industrialized city on allergic rhinitis. METHODS: From July 28 to August 9 of 2008, 1,043 residents of urban and rural areas in a local community had enrolled in health screening and questionnaire survey. One thousand thirty-three patients also underwent a skin prick test. Prevalence rates of allergic rhinitis were calculated according to residential areas, and the used statistical analysis were Fisher's exact test and chi-square test. RESULTS: In a survey, the fraction of adults, who complained of sneezing, nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea, during a recent 1 year period, showed the significant difference between urban (30.5%) and rural areas (22.4%). The fractions of positive skin prick tests were not different between two areas in each age group. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 8.4% in urban areas and 6.9% in rural areas. Considering the age groups, the adults group only showed the significantly higher prevalence of allergic rhinitis in urban areas (8.2% vs. 3.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Unlike the children and adolescents groups, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in adults group was higher in the industrialized urban areas.

A Case of Osteoma in the Nasal Cavity / 대한이비인후과학회지

Osteoma is a slow-growing benign tumor composed of mature bone. Osteoma of the nose and paranasal sinuses is usually asymptomatic and most commonly occurs in the frontal sinus, followed by the ethmoidal and maxillary sinus. The occurrence in the sphenoidal sinus and nasal cavity is very rare. We present a case report of a patient with an isolated osteoma in the right nasal cavity presenting with nasal obstruction.