title: Current and future directions in pediatric allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common pediatric problem that significantly affects sleep, learning, performance, and quality of life. In addition, it is associated with significant comorbidities and complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to provide an update on the epidemiology, comorbidities, pathophysiology, current treatment, and future direction of pediatric AR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature reviews in each of these areas were conducted, and the results were incorporated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of AR is increasing in the pediatric population and is associated with significant morbidity, comorbidities, and complications. The mainstay of current treatment strategies includes allergen avoidance, pharmacotherapy, and allergen specific immunotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the future, diagnosis will be improved by microarrayed recombinant allergen testing and therapy will be expanded to include emerging treatments such as sublingual immunotherapy and combination products.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa.
authors.forename: Ashton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartholow
authors.affiliation: Turku Allergy Center, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Erkka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valovirta
authors.affiliation: The Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Glenis
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scadding
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa. Electronic address: dskoner@wpahs.org.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skoner
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005544:Forecasting / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Antihistamines; Intranasal corticosteroids; Leukotriene modifiers; Pediatrics; Specific immunotherapy