[Background and purpose - Allergy is an endemic disease and has a considerable impact on the quality of life. This study aimed to measure the effect of active allergic rhinitis on memory functions of physically active and inactive patients with ragweed allergy. Methods - Memory functions were assessed before and after allergen exposure. Participants in both groups were provoked nasally with 30 IR/mL ragweed allergen in each nostril. Explicit memory was measured with story-recalling and implicit memory was investigated with reaction time task. Results - In neuropsychological assessments athletes performed significantly better, compared with the control group after allergen provocation in short-term and long-term memory functions. There was no difference between the groups in the implicit tasks. Athletes have achieved better results after provocation, comparing to the baseline test and the tests that measured short-term and long-term memory functions. Conclusion - Short-term disturbing factors, e.g. swollen nasal mucosa, sneezing, and watery eyes after provocation did have not caused deterioration in cognitive functions. A single-shot allergen in high doses have caused an increase of mental concentration, which was more pronounced in athletes.]

[Asthmatic manifestations can be expected in 20 to 30% of children with allergic rhinitis. Risk factors were searched to predict later bronchial asthma in time. In a prospective study family history, clinical symptoms and laboratory signs, bronchial hyperreactivity (to histamine and to adenosine) and the lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptor affinity and number were investigated. 31 of 40 patients responded with bronchoconstriction to histamin and 20 to adenosine. In 16 patients both provocation tests were positive. There was no significant difference in lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptors between the patient group and the controls. It is suggested that children with allergic rhinitis who show bronchial hyperreactivity and a decreased number or affinity of lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptors are more at risk to asthmatic manifestations. The risk is higher as the number of receptors decreases with age. The prognostic value of the above mentioned methods will be demonstrated by a subsequent retrospective study.]

[INTRODUCTION – The authors report their results with flunisolide nasal spray in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS – 36 patients suffering from perennial and 38 ones suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis were examined. The effect of the nasal spray was evaluated with the comparison of subjective complaint changes to the data received by rhinoscopic examination of the nasal mucosa and to the changes in rhinomanometric examination data. CONCLUSION – Treatment with flunisolide nasal spray favourably affected the symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis. The improving status of patients showed a fairly good correlation with data gained with rhino manometric tests. ]

[As the prevalence of pollen allergy is increasing, the incidence of oral allergy syndrome is becoming more frequent. We expect, therefore, an increasing incidence of this syndrome among in children as well. The prevalence of oral allergy syndrome among adults with birch pollen allergy is estimated to be 20-70%. The prevalence of the disease among children is currently unknown. The aims of our study were to identify the characteristics of oral allergy syndrome in children and to assess its frequency. In order to identify children with oral allergy syndrome, we have used the children’s medical history, measured total IgE and serum specific IgE levels, performed skin prick tests and food challenge tests. Among the 743 children suffering from allergic rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma we found 463 children with pollen allergy, 6 of who had oral allergy syndrome. Thus, the prevalence of oral allergy syndrome among children with pollen allergy was 1.3%.]