Perennial rhinitis. A common childhood complaint

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Otorhinolaryngology

Background:

• Rhinitis is a common condition in childhood, presenting as either perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis.
• Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of rhinitis subtypes is crucial for effective diagnosis and management in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the relative frequencies of perennial versus seasonal rhinitis in children attending an allergy clinic.
• To investigate the association between rhinitis and other atopic diseases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of rhinitis symptoms in 595 children over a four-year period.
• Evaluation of nasal smear findings, including eosinophils and mast cells.
• Assessment of rhinitis as a symptom of atopic disease.

Main Results:

• Perennial rhinitis was significantly more prevalent than seasonal rhinitis across all age groups.
• Only 12% of children experienced symptoms exclusively during the grass pollen season.
• Eosinophils were detected in 10% of nasal smears, while mast cells were found in one-third of cases.
• Rhinitis emerged as the most common manifestation of atopic disease.

Conclusions:

• Perennial rhinitis is the predominant form of rhinitis in children presenting to allergy clinics.
• Rhinitis is a key indicator of atopy in children, highlighting the importance of comprehensive allergy evaluations.