Nasal symptoms in bronchial asthma.

In a review of 160 consecutive cases of bronchial asthma, 127 (79%) had nasal symptoms indicative of chronic rhinitis or rhinosinusitis. There was a higher incidence of positive family history of asthma in this group (34%) than in those patients without nasal symptoms (15%). In the majority of the cases (69%) the nasal symptoms started before or at the same time as the onset of asthma; the most common symptoms being rhinorrhoea in 105 (82%) and sneezing in 101 (79%) of the patients. In 59 (46%) of the cases where a definite relationship could be established, nasal symptoms immediately preceded, precipitated or accompanied acute asthmatic episodes. Such cases improve significantly, in the severity of the asthmatic symptoms, with treatment directed at the nasal condition, and it is therefore suggested that the presence of persistent nasal symptoms be looked for as aggravating factors in asthmatics, and their underlying cause treated.