[Development of allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma: 4-5 year follow-up study of preschool children].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the development of allergic rhinitis (AR) in preschool children, and the variation of sensitization to airborne allergens 5 years later, also the link between AR and asthma.


METHODS
Two hundred and fourty-eight children with AR (AR group) and 217 non-AR children (non-AR group) were surveyed using a questionnaire and examined by otolaryngologists with skin prick test (SPT) between 2006 and 2007. Among them, 63 children were asked to return to hospital to participate in a routine ENT examination and SPT for common inhalant allergens. All statistical analysis was performed by a professional statistician using SPSS 17.0 statistical software.


RESULTS
Two hundred and sixteen questionnaires were acquired in AR group and 156 questionnaires were acquired in non-AR group. (1) The remission of AR occurred in 37.0% (80/216) 5-years later, 70.0% (56/80) children who had remission of AR symptoms received the correct medication; there was only 49.3% (67/136) children who had nonremission of AR symptoms received the correct medication, and there was a statistically significant difference (χ(2) = 0.114, P = 0.736). (2) Asthma prevalence was increased from 12.5% (27/216) to 14.8% (32/216) in AR group children, there was no statistically significant difference (χ(2) = -0.491, P = 0.484). The prevalence of asthma was increased slightly from 2.6% (4/156) to 3.2% (5/156) in no-AR group children, there was no statistically significant difference (χ(2) = 0.114, P = 0.736). When asthma in AR group children had tendency of remission, AR could also be controlled, and there was a statistically significant difference (χ(2) = 5.423, P < 0.05). (3) The total number of sensitization allergen decreased compared to the originally test. Dermatophagoides farinae was the most common allergen in our survey, while in the originally test, Alternaria tenuis was the most common allergen. There was age-dependent tendency to sensitize to new classes of allergens was present in children with AR, the number of children sensitized to fungal was minimum.


CONCLUSIONS
Remission of AR in preschool children occurred in 37.0% 5 years later. There is a strong relationship between childhood AR and childhood asthma. Sensitization to the airborne allergens may change with age.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100045, China.
Peng-peng
PP
Wang
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100045, China. Email: yameizhang25@126.com.
Ya-mei
YM
Zhang
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100045, China.
Jie
J
Zhang
D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires