Differential diagnosis of chronic allergic conjunctivitis in allergic rhinitis

Abstract

<em><strong>Introduction</strong><em> At the optometry clinic of the Faculty of Higher Studies (FES) Iztacala, at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, a clinical case of persistent, monocular, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis was presented in a 13-year-old patient, diagnosed and treated as bacterial conjunctivitis in several medical exams prior to our consultation. The case was analyzed considering the signs and symptoms, as well as the evolution of the pathology. <em><strong>Objective</strong><em> To develop a differential diagnosis between chronic allergic conjunctivitis and persistent allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, starting from a process that was diagnosed as infectious. <em><strong>Method</strong><em> Evaluation using biomicroscopy, as well as examination of nasal passages, throat and conjunctival exudate, as a diagnostic aid. <em><strong>Results</strong><em> After clinical evaluation, chronic allergic rhinitis was diagnosed thus, the patient was referred to a general practitioner for systemic treatment and antihistamine treatment was administered locally. <em><strong>Conclusion</strong><em> Persistent rhinoconjunctivitis has a prevalence of approximately 88% in patients attending ophthalmological consultation. It is important that in clinical practice optometrists strengthen the diagnosis with special tests for allergy detection, while applying diagnostic questionnaires such as the one presented by the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) and multidisciplinary work.