Samter’s Triad: Rare or Under-Diagnosed?

Samter’s triad is an acquired inflammatory disorder characterized by asthma, nasal polyps and aspirin sensitivity. Aspirin sensitivity is the hallmark of this condition. It is a form of pseudo-allergy, as IgE does not play any significant role in its pathophysiology. There is a paucity of reported cases of Samter’s triad in Africa.

Our patient is a 24-year old female who presented with worsening of asthmatic symptoms and naso-ocular complaints after thirty minutes of intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for dysmenorrhea. We found bilateral nasal polyps on examination of her nostrils and two previous episodes of similar reactions to NSAIDs.

There is a need for increased awareness about this condition among healthcare givers managing patients with bronchial asthma as several cases may be missed in hospital settings. Samter’s triad requires detailed drug history of sensitivity to NSAIDs with accompanying naso-ocular manifestations in all asthmatic patients.