Sajid Iqbal Sheikh, Khalid Cheema, Jawad Ahmed, Nukbatullah Awan, Waheed-ul Hasan, Ijaz Nazir, Rashid Nadeem, Sohaib Ali Noon, Saba Arshad.
Efficacy of Influenza Vaccine in Terms of Preventing Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;12(2):734-7.

Background: There is severe limitation of data on potency of influenza vaccine in control of allergic rhinitis in population of Lahore. Aim: To figure out efficacy of influenza vaccine in controlling symptoms of allergic rhinitis such as cough, sore throat, runny nose, fever, etc in all ages and gender groups in Lahore. Design: Randomized, prospective, controlled trial over 12 weeks period. Setting: ENT OPD Unit 2 Mayo Hospital Lahore. Methods: A group of 144 people suffering from allergic rhinitis symptoms were randomly selected presenting to Mayo Hospital ENT Unit II. Patients were randomly selected to receive influenza vaccine on OPD basis. Patients were followed 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 weeks after vaccination for assessment of disappearance of symptoms. Study determined percentage of cases in which symptoms of allergic rhinitis disappear after flu vaccination in 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 weeks. Results: At least 6 symptoms of allergic rhinitis disappeared in 70% of cases in experimental group as compared to only 55.5% in control group in first two weeks. Conclusion: Vaccinating all populations with influenza yearly provides moderately better control of allergic rhinitis symptoms than standard treatment with routine conventional medicine.

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