Nasal hyperreactivity to newspapers

Abstract

Nasal hyperreactivity occurs quite frequently while reading newspapers. This study consisted of 15 patients with vasomotor rhinitis with such problems and six asymptomatic volunteers. All subjects were exposed to printing ink and paper dust from newspapers. The effect was registered by nasal symptom score and rhinomanometry. Patients with vasomotor rhinitis reacted upon exposure to paper dust but not to printing ink. This exposure had no effect on the control group. The results indicate that paper dust is the causative agent in hyperreactivity to newspapers.