Lophomonas blattarum Infection in Allergic Rhinitis Patients: Does it affect the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis?

This study aims to investigate the prevalence of Lophomonas blattarum in allergic rhinitis patients and the effect of allergic rhinitis treatment in patients with allergic rhinitis along with L. blattarum infection.  This Prospective cohort study was conducted in the tertiary otorhinolaryngology-head and neck centers in Mashhad, Iran. Patients with allergic rhinitis (in the two groups of L. blattarum-positive and L. blattarum-negative) were treated for allergic rhinitis, and their response to treatment was evaluated after 2 and 4 weeks.  In this study, 56 patients (including 36 females and 20 males) were examined. The L. blattarum was identified in 16 patients (28.6%), 10 of whom were female. There was no significant relationship between L. blattarum infection with gender (p: 0.990), occupation (p: 0.915), type of allergy (p: 0.990), and various allergens. After treatment, the severity of allergic rhinitis symptoms, except for eye swelling (p: 0.203), were significantly decreased in L. blattarum-positive patients. Also, the severity of allergic rhinitis symptoms were remarkably decreased in both L. blattarum-positive and L. blattarum-negative patients. The L. blattarum infection was found in 28.6% of patients with allergic rhinitis, and L. blattarum infection did not affect the treatment of allergic rhinitis.