title: The burden of rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis in adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rhinitis and conjunctivitis are common diseases worldwide that are frequently associated. Nevertheless, the risk factors for rhinoconjunctivitis are not well-described and the impact of conjunctivitis on rhinitis and asthma in children remains unknown. This study explored the different risk factors and evaluated the burden of rhinoconjunctivitis among adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study conducted on a random sample of schoolchildren, aged 10-17 years, using skin prick tests and a self-administered questionnaire on respiratory health investigating the impact of rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis on daily activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A complete evaluation was obtained for 2,150 children. The prevalence of rhinitis alone was 18.2% and rhinitis associated with conjunctivitis was 20.5%. Rhinoconjunctivitis was more frequently associated with females, a parental history of atopy, domestic exposure to mold/dampness, passive smoke exposure, and reported truck traffic in residential streets. Moreover, rhinoconjunctivitis was associated with a higher level of allergic sensitization. The prevalence of current asthma was 1.7% in subjects without rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis, 5.1% in rhinitis and 10.7% in rhinoconjunctivitis. In a logistic model, rhinoconjunctivitis yielded a 2-fold risk for current asthma with respect to rhinitis. Subjects with rhinoconjunctivitis had poorer quality of life (QoL); there was an impact on daily activities in 4.6% of rhinitis and 10.7% of rhinoconjunctivitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ocular symptoms increase the role of rhinitis as a risk factor for asthma and its impact on daily activities in children.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cibella
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cuttitta
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bucchieri
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Melis
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Grutta
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Viegi
keywords: Rhinitis; asthma; children; conjunctivitis; epidemiology