IS N.O.S.E SCORE RELIABLE TO ABSOLUTE EOSINOPHIL COUNT? EFFECT OF NASAL CORTICOSTEROID SPRAY IN ALLERGIC RHINITIS.

Introduction: Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation score is a simple method to assess the severity of the symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis. This study is done to know the effect of Nasal corticosteroid spray in Allergic Rhinitis in relation to N.O.S.E score & Absolute Eosinophil Count. Material & Method: This prospective observational study was conducted in patients of Allergic Rhinitis visiting ENT & HNS Department, KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Belgaum for 1 year. A total of 50 patients were included in study after obtaining the informed consent. All the patients were assessed by severity of symptoms with N.O.S.E score with AEC before & after treatment with intranasal corticosteroid spray & was followed up after 3 months. Result: The mean age of patients is 32.48±12.77, with 40% female participants and 60% were male participants. The male to female ratio in 1.5:1, with male preponderance. The NOSE score was found to be significantly higher before treatment (47.1±1.56) compared to after treatment (16.40±0.85), with p<0.05. There is a weak strength of positive correlation between the NOSE score with the AEC (r=0.201, p<0.05). Conclusion: Nasal corticosteroid spray is effective in Allergic Rhinitis in relation to NOSE score. NOSE score is better indicator of control of Allergic Rhinitis compared to AEC. The examination of NOSE score is simple, inexpensive, and non-invasive. As a result, it can be utilised as a replacement for AEC value in clinical settings.