A survey of rhinitis in Japan and an evaluation of the treatment with sodium cromoglycate.

4,907 cases reports of patients with rhinitis have been analysed in Japan; the majority were classified as allergic on the basis of positive skin and nasal provocation tests and a nasal eosinophilia. The patient characteristics have been evaluated and they are very similar to those seen in a European population. There was a high incidence of sensitivity to house dust, pollens and fungi. Treatment with Nasal Intal powder produced an effective therapeutic response in whom the major symptoms were sneezing and rhinorrhoea responded better than those with nasal obstruction. There was a clinically significant withdrawal or reduction of concomitant therapy particularly oral corticosteroids. In the majority of patients the therapeutic effect of Intal Nasal was observed after two weeks. The incidence of side effects was low and all were of a minor nature, the predominant one being nasal irritation.