Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Symptom Assessment of Patients with Allergic Rhinitis Using an Allergen Exposure Chamber
Published on: March 3, 2023
[A questionnaire survey of asthma in children with co-morbid allergic rhinitis]
Sawako Masuda1, Takao Fujisawa, Kosei Iguchi
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, National Mie Hospital.
Insights
Children with asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) often experience milder asthma, a higher incidence of atopic asthma, and a greater likelihood of cold air-induced exacerbations. Early attention to nasal symptoms is crucial for better asthma management in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Allergy and Immunology
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Bronchial asthma frequently co-occurs with allergic rhinitis (AR).
- Understanding the interplay between upper and lower airway diseases in children is essential for comprehensive care.
- A significant portion of asthmatic children present with comorbid nasal conditions.
Purpose:
- To investigate the relationship between asthma and upper airway diseases, specifically allergic rhinitis, in pediatric patients.
- To compare clinical characteristics of asthmatic children with and without comorbid perennial AR.
- To identify factors influencing asthma severity and exacerbation triggers in the presence of AR.
Summary:
- A survey of 333 asthmatic children revealed that 46.5% had nasal diseases, with 35.7% having perennial AR.
- Children with comorbid AR showed a lower percentage of non-atopic asthma, milder asthma severity, and a higher prevalence of family history of perennial AR.
- Upper airway symptoms often preceded or coincided with asthma onset, and 38.7% experienced simultaneous upper and lower airway exacerbations.
Impact:
- Highlights the importance of evaluating nasal symptoms in children diagnosed with asthma, particularly those with atopic asthma and a family history of AR.
- Emphasizes the need for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of nasal conditions to improve overall asthma control in children.
- Suggests that addressing allergic rhinitis may lead to better management outcomes for pediatric asthma.
Background:
Bronchial asthma is often complicated with allergic rhinitis (AR).
Objective:
To investigate the relationship between the upper and lower airway diseases in children with asthma, we performed a questionnaire survey at 6 centers in Kinki area in Japan.
Methods:
A questionnaire was filled out by parents of 333 asthmatic children (0-16 years, median age 7). It included questions concerning nasal symptoms, onset ages of rhinitis and asthma, correlation between nasal symptoms and asthma symptoms, and family history of allergic diseases.
Results:
One hundred and fifty five (46.5%) subjects answered to have any nasal diseases; 20 with sinusitis, 46 with seasonal AR, and 119 (35.7%) with perennial AR. To further clarify the relationship of asthma and concomitant AR, we focused on patients with perennial AR and compared the clinical characteristics with patients with no nasal diseases. Percentage of non-atopic asthma was significantly lower in patients with comorbid AR than those without. Severity of asthma tended to be milder and family history of perennial AR was more often in the former than the latter group. Interestingly, asthmatic children with comorbid AR were more likely to have cold air-induced asthma exacerbations. In the subjects with comorbid AR, concomitant exacerbation of the upper and lower airways occurred in 38.7%. The median age of onset of asthma and nasal symptoms was 2 and 4 years, respectively. In 43.9% of them, upper airway symptoms started either before or simultaneously with asthma.
Conclusion:
The attention should be paid to the nasal symptoms in children with asthma, especially they have atopic asthma and positive family history of perennial allergic rhinitis. It is important that an appropriate diagnosis and treatment of nasal symptoms to better control asthma in children.
More Related Videos
03:40Acupoint Catgut Embedding Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine for Managing Allergic Rhinitis
Published on: December 20, 2024
06:34A Component-resolved Diagnostic Approach for a Study on Grass Pollen Allergens in Chinese Southerners with Allergic Rhinitis and/or Asthma
Published on: June 4, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma
Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations
Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
Asthma I: Introduction
Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
Asthma-I: Introduction