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. 2014 Feb;78(2):343-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2013.12.006. Epub 2013 Dec 17.

Prevalence of and associations with allergic rhinitis in children with chronic rhinosinusitis

Ahmad R Sedaghat  1 , Wanda Phipatanakul  2 , Michael J Cunningham  3
Affiliations

Prevalence of and associations with allergic rhinitis in children with chronic rhinosinusitis

Ahmad R Sedaghat et al. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2014 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in children has been associated with a variety of disorders including atopic disease, cystic fibrosis, immunologic disorders and ciliary dyskinesia. Although a strong association, or even cause and effect relationship, between allergic rhinitis (AR) and CRS is commonly assumed, the epidemiologic relationship between these disorders has not yet been defined in children.

Methods: A retrospective review of all children diagnosed with CRS on otolaryngology or allergy office evaluation at a large tertiary-care pediatric hospital over a ten-year period was performed. Demographic data and concomitant diagnoses of AR, cystic fibrosis, immunologic disorders and primary ciliary dyskinesia were analyzed for relationships with CRS.

Results: A total of 4044 children with an average age of 8.9 years and a slight male predominance (53.8%) with CRS were identified. Of these children, 0.2% had primary ciliary dyskinesia, 4.1% had cystic fibrosis, 12.3% had an immunologic disorder, and 26.9% had AR. A concomitant asthma diagnosis was positively associated with a diagnosis of AR (OR=6.24, 95% CI: 5.27-7.39, P<0.001), whereas a concomitant cystic fibrosis diagnosis was negatively associated (OR=0.12, 95% CI: 0.06-0.26, P<0.001).

Conclusions: AR is more prevalent than the other comorbidities combined in children with CRS, and is independently associated with the presence of asthma. Formal allergy testing, guided by clinical history and regional allergen sensitivity prevalence, should be strongly considered in all children with CRS, in particular those with reactive airway disease.

Keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Asthma; Chronic rhinosinusitis; Hypersensitivity; Pediatrics; Sinusitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: The authors state that there are no disclosures and no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of asthma in all children with CRS as well as in children with CRS and CF, immune disorders, PCD or no associated comorbidities (uncomplicated CRS). For each group, the prevalence of asthma with respect to allergic rhinitis status is also depicted.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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