Impact of rhinitis on asthma control in children: association with FeNO

The prevalence of rhinitis is high and frequently observed in association with asthma. Although the persistence of predisposing factors such as rhinitis is frequently observed in adults, this has not yet been confirmed in children.

The aim of this present work is to show the relationship between rhinitis and asthma control in asthmatic children.

The authors carried out a cross-sectional study by collecting clinical, spirometric, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) data in children aged from 4 to 17 years.

One hundred seventeen children were included. Asthma control was optimal in 37.6%, suboptimal in 55.5% and poor in 7.3% of cases. A 74.3% of children were atopic and 62.5% had symptoms 34 of rhinitis. Rhinitis was more frequent when control of asthma was worse (p = .0001). Age (p = .002), asthma control (p < .001), atopy (p = .001), and presence of rhinitis (p = .012) were significantly associated with FeNO.

Our study confirms the strong relationship between upper airways and poor asthma control in the asthmatic child. Symptoms of rhinitis may be partly responsible for the increased fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) level, independently of the control of asthma. Evaluation of rhinitis should be included to improve assessment of asthma control in children.