Allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis in children in the tropics: Prevalence and risk associations
Pediatric Pulmonology, 05/29/2012
Chiang WC et al. – Allergic rhinitis (AR) is more common in male children, is relatively rare below the age of 2 years, and accounts for two–thirds of all childhood chronic rhinitis and 73.3% of all chronic rhinitis in school–aged children (>6 years old). Children with AR have more severe rhinitis symptoms and more often suffer from asthma–related events and admissions.
Methods- This study enrolled children with chronic rhinitis who presented to a tertiary paediatric center for a diagnostic skin prick test (SPT).
- Parents completed a medical history questionnaire for their child, including disease activity for asthma and rhinitis.
- Sociodemographic data was obtained and all participants underwent a common inhalant SPT panel. A positive SPT indicated AR.
- From March 2001 to March 2009, 6,660 children (64% male) were enrolled (aged 6 months to 19 years, mean 7.82 years). Only 3.7% (249) of the children were <2 years old, and almost 30% of these had AR.
- Most children with AR (73%) presented after age 6.
- Males were more likely to have AR (vs. NAR) (OR 1.5; CI 1.39–1.77).
- Antihistamine and salbutamol use did not differ between children with AR and NAR.
- Children with AR were more likely to require adjunct therapy with inhaled corticosteroids (51.2% vs. 43.2%, P<0.001), have drug hypersensitivity (especially antipyretic drugs) (2.5% vs. 1.3%, P=0.384) or an asthma admission (9.1% vs. 6.0%, P<0.001).
