Can an otorhinolaryngological visit induce the suspect of allergic rhinitis in children?
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Authors Information
1Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Casa di Cura Villa Montallegro, Genoa, Italy
2Pediatric Allergy Center, Istituto G. Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
3Pediatrics Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
4Health Sciences Department, Genoa University, Genoa, Italy
5Allergy Clinic, Casa di Cura Villa Montallegro, Genoa, Italy
History
Published online: 03 October 2019
Accepted: 24 June 2019
Received: 16 May 2019
SUMMARY
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is very frequent in childhood. AR is commonly associated with some co-morbidities and typical clinical features. This study aimed to test the hypothesis whether an otorhinolaryngological (ORL) visit could induce the suspect of AR. Globally, 1,002 children (550 males, mean age 5.77 years) were consecutively visited at an ORL clinic. Clinical visit, nasal endoscopy, and skin prick test were performed in all patients. In particular, history investigated atopic familiarity, birth, feeding type, passive smoking, comorbidities, including asthma, respiratory infections, otitis media, respiratory sleep disorder. Endoscopy assessed the tonsil and adenoid volume, turbinate contacts, mucosal color, and nasal discharge. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. The study showed that 547 (54.6%) children had AR. Some parameters were predicting factor for suspecting AR: middle turbinate contact (OR = 9.27), familial atopy (OR = 6.24), pale nasal mucosa (OR = 4.95), large adenoid volume (OR = 3.02 for score 4), and asthma co-morbidity (OR = 2.95). In conclusion this real-life study showed that during an ORL visit it is possible to suspect AR in children with turbinate hypertrophy, familial atopy, nasal pale mucosa, adenoid enlargement, and asthma comorbidity.
