Bush Beats Plus Vol-9, No-3, 2023

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an allergic disorder that is frequently encountered in primary care. It is a symptomatic condition of the nose caused by allergen exposure and IgE-mediated inflammation and characterised by presence of symptoms of nasal congestion, clear rhinorrhea, sneezing, postnasal drip, and nasal pruritus. It exerts a marked detrimental effect on the affected individual’s sleep, social life, quality of life, and attendance and functioning at school and work. Apart from the nasal symptoms, patients with AR may also present with associated allergic conjunctivitis, non-productive cough, Eustachian tube dysfunction, and chronic sinusitis.House dust mites, domestic animals, insects pollens and moulds and occupational triggers such as latex, tobacco smoke, are the triggers associated with allergic rhinitis occurrence.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) are one of the commonest gastrointestinal disorders worldwide. It’s characterized by abdominal symptoms including abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and constipation, without any evidence of an underlying structural or organic abnormality. There is now a growing realization that they are primarily a result of alteration in the brain-gut axis, a bidirectional communication pathway between the gut and central nervous system. Large scale multinational studies have reported that the prevalence of FGID stands at 40% worldwide, with a higher prevalence in women than in men. Functional gastrointestinal disorders incur significant healthcare costs, significantly affect the quality of life and are frequently associated with psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression