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Evaluation of nasal mucus test results
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
Assessment of the degree of activity of an allergic reaction based on the results of a study of scrapings from the nasal mucosa
Activity of allergic reaction |
Eosinophil and neutrophil counts |
Basophil and mast cell count |
Absent (-) |
0-1 |
0-0.3 |
Weak (+) |
1,1-5 |
0.4-1 |
Average (++) |
6-15 |
1,1-3 |
High (+++) |
16-20 |
3.1-6 |
Very high (++++) |
More than 20 |
More than 6 |
Changes in nasal mucosa scrapings and presumptive diagnosis
Sign |
Presumptive diagnosis |
Increased eosinophil count |
Allergic rhinitis, eosinophilic nonallergic rhinitis, rhinitis due to intolerance to acetylsalicylic acid, Churg-Strauss syndrome, nasal polyps |
Increased number of basophils and mast cells |
The same (in the presence of eosinophils) and systemic mastocytosis |
Increased neutrophil count: |
|
With phagocytized bacteria |
Infectious rhinitis or nasopharyngitis |
No bacteria |
Acute respiratory diseases, vasomotor rhinitis, rhinitis and sinusitis caused by irritants, allergic rhinitis (the latter is accompanied by eosinophilia) |
Ciliated epithelial cells with condensed chromatin |
Acute respiratory diseases |
Increased number of goblet cells |
Allergic or infectious rhinitis (less often - vasomotor rhinitis) |
The results of conjunctival scrapings are examined and assessed in a similar manner in allergic eye diseases. An increase in the number of eosinophils, basophils and mast cells indicates allergic conjunctivitis; the predominance of neutrophils indicates bacterial conjunctivitis, conjunctivitis caused by irritants (in combination with an increase in the content of eosinophils - allergic conjunctivitis); lymphocytes - viral conjunctivitis.
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