Journal List > Allergy Asthma Respir Dis > v.3(5) > 1059126

Ahn, Kim, and Choi: Symptomatic differences between allergic and nonallergic rhinitis in children

Abstract

Purpose

Children and adolescent have high prevalences of allergic rhinitis (AR) and nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) as well as adult. The purpose of this study was to assess the symptomatic differences between AR and NAR in children.

Methods

This study included 138 patients with 2 or more of rhinitis symptoms, including rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, nasal itching, and sneezing for over 1 hour on most days who visited Kyungpook National University Children's Hospital between March 2013 and June 2014. The levels of total IgE, specific IgE, eosinophil cationic protein, peripheral blood eosinophil count, and the skin prick test were carried out. All the patients or parents were asked to fill out a rhinitis symptom questionnaire and contents were rechecked by physician during the consultation. The symptoms of rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal itching, nasal obstruction and eye itching were checked. Family history and comorbidity were also evaluated.

Results

Ninety-one patients were diagnosed with AR, 47 patients with NAR. Their age ranged from 1 to 16 years. AR patients had more sneezing, nasal pruritus and eye symptoms than NAR patients (P=0.003, P=0.036, and P=0.003, respectively).

Conclusion

This study shows that the several symptomatic differences may help to diagnose the AR. It will be helpful in establishing diagnostic and treatment plans for rhinitis patients before allergic tests.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

Symptomatic differences between allergic and nonallergic rhinitis in children. AR, allergic rhinitis; NAR, nonallergic rhinitis.

aard-3-341-g001
Table 1

Demographics of subjects

aard-3-341-i001
Demographic AR (n = 91) NAR (n = 47) P-value
Sex
 Male:female 62:29 68:19 NS
Age (yr) 4.3 ± 5.6 2.8 ± 4.3 < 0.001
Total IgE (IU/mL) 89.5 ± 181.2 79 ± 65.3 < 0.001
Eosinophil (/mm3) 974.4 ± 1,613.1 488.9 ± 493.9 0.001
ECP 30.2 ± 38.2 21.0 ± 21.0 NS

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation.

AR, allergic rhinitis; NAR, nonallergic rhinitis; NS, nonspecific; ECP, eosinophil cationic protein.

Table 2

ARIA classification

aard-3-341-i002
Classification AR (n = 91) NAR (n = 47) P-value
Mild-intermittent 20 (22.0) 5 (10.6) NS
Moderate-severe intermittent 5 (5.5) 4 (8.5) NS
Mild persistent 24 (26.4) 16 (34.0) NS
Moderate-severe persistent 42 (46.2) 22 (46.8) NS

Values are presented as number (%).

ARIA, Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma; AR, allergic rhinitis; NAR, nonallergic rhinitis; NS, nonspecific.

Table 3

Comorbidity of subjects

aard-3-341-i003
Comorbidity AR NAR P-value
Asthma 23.1% 4.3% 0.007
Atopic dermatitis 16.5% 14.9% NS
Otitis media 11.2% 6.5% NS
Sinusitis 29.2% 41.3% NS
Sleep disturbance 36.0% 30.4% NS

AR, allergic rhinitis; NAR, nonallergic rhinitis; NS, nonspecific.

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Bong Seok Choi
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2129-7232

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