title: Cell-mediated non-allergic rhinitis in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Non-allergic rhinitis is a heterogeneous disease whose etiology is largely unknown. Nasal cytology only allows us to recognize different non-allergic rhinitis forms on the basis of the prevalent inflammatory cell infiltrate: non-allergic rhinitis with eosinophils, with neutrophils, with mast-cells and with both eosinophils and mast-cells. The aim of this study is to define the incidence, clinical features and comorbidity of the different types of cell-mediated non-allergic rhinitis in a pediatric age group.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fourteen non-allergic children with chronic nasal obstruction and associated symptoms (rhinorrhea, sneezing and nasal itchiness) were retrospectively selected. All patients had been submitted to a clinical history, pediatric evaluation, anterior rhinoscopy and fiberendoscopy, rhinomanometry and nasal cytology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Non-allergic rhinitis with neutrophils was present in 46 (40.4%) children, non-allergic rhinitis with eosinophils in 53 (46.5%), non-allergic rhinitis with mast-cells in 12 (10.5%) and non-allergic rhinitis with both eosinophils and mast-cells in 3 (2.6%). Nasal obstruction was prevalent in non-allergic rhinitis with eosinophils and in non-allergic rhinitis with mast-cells patients (P<0.001) whereas rhinorrea and sneezing only in the form with eosinophils (P<0.0001). Nasal itching on the other hand was prevalent in the form with mast-cells (P<0.0003). Non-allergic rhinitis with eosinophils group showed a higher probability of asthma (P<0.02) and respiratory sleep disorders (P<0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the pediatric age group the most frequent forms of non-allergic rhinitis are those with eosinophils or with neutrophils. A diagnosis of non-allergic rhinitis with eosinophils in children presumes more severe symptoms and a higher incidence of pulmonary disease and roncopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maselli Del Giudice
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbara
authors.forename: Giuseppe Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fiocca Matthews
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cassano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000166:cytology*; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D025363:Rhinomanometry; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution