Comparison of middle ear changes between patients with and without allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common condition affecting 20-30% of the population. This condition affects not only the nose but also the sinuses and ears in many ways. Many studies are there worldwide implicating AR as a cause of serous otitis media. But only few studies have actually studied the tympanic membrane (TM) changes observed in patients with allergic rhinitis. The aim of this study is to document the TM and middle ear changes observed in patients with AR and without AR

After obtaining the regulatory approvals including CTRI registration, the outpatients seen or inpatients admitted under the Department of ENT, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal will be screened for possible inclusion into the study. This is a prospective and comparative study with 90 subjects recruited (45 cases and 45 controls) then a work-up will be carried out through a questionnaire(SFAR) from which the subjects who have a score of more than 7 will be considered as cases and those with a score of less than 7 will be considered controls. Once patients and healthy controls give their written consent to participate in the study a detailed history and clinical examination of the patients will be done along with a complete audiological work up including tympanometry studies will be performed, the results will be compiled and analyzed.