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Allergic rhinitis is a common chronic childhood disease, often overlooked and undertreated. Early diagnosis and effective treatments, including immunotherapy, are crucial for improving children's quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Respiratory Medicine
Context:
- Allergic rhinitis is the most prevalent chronic condition in children, with increasing prevalence.
- Seasonal allergic rhinitis is typically well-managed, unlike chronic perennial allergic rhinitis.
- Perennial allergic rhinitis is frequently neglected and often co-occurs with asthma, a significant risk factor.
Purpose:
- To highlight the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of allergic rhinitis in children.
- To emphasize the impact of allergic rhinitis on children's well-being and learning.
- To advocate for improved diagnosis and management strategies for childhood allergic rhinitis.
Summary:
- Allergic rhinitis affects a substantial portion of children and adolescents, with perennial forms posing chronic challenges.
- Despite effective treatments, allergic rhinitis in children remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, impacting quality of life and learning.
- Diagnosis through symptoms and skin tests is accessible, and treatment options mirror adult care, including intranasal corticosteroids and allergen immunotherapy.
Impact:
- Addressing allergic rhinitis can significantly improve children's quality of life, psychological well-being, and academic performance.
- Effective management of allergic rhinitis can mitigate associated risks, such as asthma development and exacerbation.
- Increased awareness and improved diagnostic and therapeutic coverage are essential for managing this widespread pediatric condition.
Abstract:
Allergic rhinitis is the most common chronic disease in children. This frequency is in strong progress. According to ISAAC' study, it concerns a child (6/7 years) on four and a teenager on two. The seasonal rhinitises are generally well treated. Perennial allergic rhinitises are chronic and often neglected. They are more often complicated or associated to asthma which represents the major evolutionary risk. In a general way, allergic rhinitis are sub-diagnosed and untreated while we have more and more effective therapeutic means. Although allergic rhinitis is not considered as a severe disease, its echo on children's quality of life, physical and psychological well-being, and capacity to learn. It has also important socio-economic consequences. A better coverage is imperative itself as far as the diagnosis based on the symptoms and the allergy cutaneous tests which are easy. The options for treating allergic rhinitis in the child are not so different as those for adult. Complete avoidance of inhalant allergens is not always possible and medication are quite always possible. Intranasal corticosteroids are sometimes prescribed. In persistent disease, allergen immunotherapy may be considered according to the last OMS consensus statement.