Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Natural course and comorbidities of allergic and nonallergic rhinitis in children
Marit Westman1, Pär Stjärne, Anna Asarnoj
1CLINTEC, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. marit.westman@ki.se
Insights
Fewer children with allergic rhinitis remit compared to nonallergic rhinitis. Early allergen sensitization predicts allergic rhinitis development, while oral allergy syndrome is common in older children with allergic rhinitis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases
- Childhood Respiratory Health
Background:
- Limited data exist on the natural history and comorbidities of childhood rhinitis from large birth cohort studies.
- Understanding rhinitis phenotypes in children is crucial for managing allergic diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate rhinitis phenotypes in relation to the natural course and comorbidities of allergic diseases.
- To analyze rhinitis development and remission in preschool and early school-aged children.
- To identify associations between rhinitis, allergen sensitization, and other allergic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a birth cohort of 2024 children with IgE data at ages 4 and 8 years.
- Classification of children into groups: allergic rhinitis, nonallergic rhinitis, allergic sensitization without rhinitis, or neither.
- Longitudinal assessment of rhinitis status and associated allergic comorbidities.
Main Results:
- Allergic rhinitis prevalence increased from 5% to 14% between ages 4 and 8, while nonallergic rhinitis decreased from 8% to 6%.
- Remission rates were significantly lower for allergic rhinitis (12%) compared to nonallergic rhinitis (73%).
- Allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis were associated with asthma, eczema, and food hypersensitivity; 25% of 8-year-olds with allergic rhinitis had oral allergy syndrome.
Conclusions:
- Nonallergic rhinitis shows higher remission rates in early childhood compared to allergic rhinitis.
- Allergen sensitization at age 4 predicts later allergic rhinitis development.
- Oral allergy syndrome is a frequent comorbidity in 8-year-olds diagnosed with allergic rhinitis.
Background:
Not much data are available from large, unselected, birth cohort studies on the natural course and comorbidities of rhinitis in children.
Objective:
To study phenotypes of rhinitis in relation to the natural course and comorbidities of allergic diseases in preschool-age and early school-age children.
Methods:
We analyzed data from a birth cohort of 2024 children, for whom information on IgEs against 8 common inhaled allergens was available, collected at age 4 and 8 years. The children were assigned to groups of allergic rhinitis (rhinitis with sensitization to allergens), nonallergic rhinitis (rhinitis without sensitization), allergic sensitization but no rhinitis, or neither rhinitis nor sensitization.
Results:
The proportion of children with allergic rhinitis increased from 5% to 14% from age 4 to 8 years, whereas the proportion of children with nonallergic rhinitis decreased slightly over the same period of development, from 8% to 6%. Of the children with allergic rhinitis when they were 4 years old, 12% underwent remission by the time they were 8 years old; of the children with nonallergic rhinitis, 73% underwent remission during this period of development. Among 4-year-olds without rhinitis who were sensitized to allergen, 56% had allergic rhinitis when they were 8 years old. Among 4- and 8-year-olds, allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis were associated with asthma, eczema, and food hypersensitivity. Twenty-five percent of 8-year-olds with allergic rhinitis also had oral allergy syndrome.
Conclusions:
Fewer preschool-age children with allergic rhinitis undergo remission than do those with nonallergic rhinitis. Sensitization to inhaled allergens at an early age (4 years) precedes the development of allergic rhinitis, whereas symptoms of rhinitis do not. Oral allergy syndrome is common among 8-year-olds with allergic rhinitis.
Related Concept Videos
02:06Allergic Reactions
01:31Common Respiratory Disorders
Upper respiratory disorders impact the airways above the vocal cords, encompassing areas like the nose, sinuses, and throat. Various conditions fall under this category, including the common cold and allergic rhinitis. These disorders can stem from several causes,...
01:20Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
01:29Asthma-I: Introduction
01:26Asthma-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:
01:28Asthma I: Introduction