title: Predictive factors to differentiate between allergic and nonallergic rhinitis in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although symptoms and signs of allergic rhinitis (AR) and nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) are similar, treatment and follow-up are different. We aimed to find predictive factors that can be used in primary health care to differentiate AR from NAR.
  
  
  METHODS
  We made a retrospective analysis of cases aged 6-18 years old who were diagnosed as having chronic rhinitis within a 1-year period. Skin-prick tests were done and severity of rhinitis symptoms was recorded on a visual analog scale in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 472 cases whose medical records were complete and included in the analysis. The median age was 11 (interquartile range [IQR], 5) years. AR was diagnosed in 363 patients (76.9%) and was different from NAR with respect to: median age (p = 0.042), seasonality of the symptoms (p = 0.002), persistent symptoms (p = 0.003), moderate/severe according to visual analogue scale (VAS) score (p = 0.017), conjunctivitis (p < 0.001), parental history of AR (p = 0.026), rhinorrhea (p < 0.001), sneezing (p = 0.005), mucosal pallor (p = 0.004), and response to antihistamines (p = 0.035). All parameters with a significance of p < 0.1 between AR and NAR were included in logistic regression analysis. Seasonality, sneezing, moderate/severe rhinitis, and response to antihistamines were identified as significant independent parameters to differentiate AR from NAR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Features of rhinitis patients with seasonality, sneezing, moderate/severe rhinitis, and response to antihistamines may help in differentiation of AR from NAR at the primary care level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Allergy and Asthma, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Topal
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bakirtas
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.forename: Ilbilge Hacer Ertoy
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Karagöl
authors.forename: Umut
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arga
authors.forename: Mehmet Sadik
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Demirsoy
authors.forename: Ipek
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Turktas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012621:Seasons; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D006633:Histamine Antagonists
keywords: allergic; differences; nonallergic; rhinitis; similarities