Clinical, Allergological and Otorhinolaryngological Characteristics of Rhinitis in a Small Real-Life Cohort: a...

Rhinitis is a heterogeneous condition frequently associated with variable allergic sensitization patterns, comorbid atopic disease and ear, nose and throat (ENT)-associated upper airway findings. Real-life cohorts may provide clinically useful information regarding the combined allergological and otorhinolaryngological assessment of patients presenting with rhinitis-related symptoms.

This study aimed to describe the clinical, allergological, comorbidity-related, treatment-related and ENT-associated characteristics of a small real-life cohort of pediatric and adult patients presenting with rhinitis-related symptoms.

A retrospective descriptive pilot study, including the first 30 consecutive eligible patients evaluated between January 2024 and April 2026 in a combined private ENT and allergology practice in Ploiești, Romania, was conducted. Clinical data, allergological profile, associated comorbidities, total nasal symptom score (TNSS), ENT findings, sleep-related clinical variables and treatment patterns were analyzed descriptively.

Participants' median age was 37.5 years, with a range from five to 71 years. The cohort included 11 pediatric patients and 19 adults. Allergic rhinitis was identified in 22 patients, while eight subjects were classified as having non-allergic rhinitis. Among allergic patients, monosensitization was recorded in 10 patients and polysensitization in 12 patients. Asthma was the most frequent comorbidity, being identified in 15 patients. TNSS values were available for 26 patients; mild symptoms predominated in 19 patients, while moderate and severe symptoms were recorded in five and two patients, respectively. Inferior turbinate hypertrophy was the most frequent ENT finding (19 patients), followed by septal deviation (nine patients), adenoid hypertrophy (seven patients) and nasal polyposis (two patients). Oral antihistamines were recorded in 24 patients, intranasal corticosteroid monotherapy in 13 patients, intranasal combination therapy in 12 patients, allergen-specific immunotherapy in six patients and biological therapy with dupilumab in one patient.

This small real-life descriptive cohort highlights the heterogeneity of rhinitis-related presentations in combined ENT and allergology practice. Patients showed variable allergic sensitization patterns, frequent asthma, different degrees of symptom burden and common ENT-associated findings. These observations support individualized evaluation and multidisciplinary collaboration in patients with persistent or clinically complex rhinitis symptoms.