Natural Course of Allergic and Nonallergic Rhinitis After 2 Years in Korean Children.
OBJECTIVE
Allergic and nonallergic rhinitis are very common disease for children, however, little is known about their natural courses in the general population. The purpose is to evaluate the natural course of allergic and nonallergic rhinitis in children.


METHODS
We analyzed data from Snoring Child Cohort of 178 children (107 boys and 71 girls). All children entered the study at the age of 7 years (range, 6.5 to 7.4 years). Questionnaires regarding chronic rhinitis, a skin prick test (SPT) for 5 inhalent allergens, and specific IgE for 2 dust mites were administered. Children were classified into 4 groups: allergic rhinitis (rhinitis, positive SPT), nonallergic rhinitis (rhinitis, negative SPT), sensitization only (no rhinitis, positive SPT), and control (no rhinitis, negative SPT). We repeated follow them annually, and analyzed the data of first and third year for this study.


RESULTS
Finally, the data of 122 children were analyzed. Among 18 children with allergic rhinitis at 7 year, 13 (72%) became sensitization only after 2 years and 5 (28%) were remained having allergic rhinitis. Five out of 19 children (26%) with nonallergic rhinitis developed into allergic rhinitis and 7 (37%) into control at 9 years. Twenty-four out of 28 children (86%) with sensitization only at 7 years remained the same at 9 years. Among 57 control children at 7 year, 2 (4%) developed into allergic rhinitis, 7 (12%) with nonallergic rhinitis, and 16 (28%) with sensitization only at 9 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The status of chronic rhinitis and allergen sensitization is ever-changing in children.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea.
Seung-Hoon
SH
Lee
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea.
Ji Ho
JH
Choi
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
Jeffrey D
JD
Suh
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Sochung
S
Chung
Department of Pediatrics, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Seok-Chan
SC
Hong
Department of Pediatrics, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jin Kook
JK
Kim
Department of Pediatrics, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jae Hoon
JH
Cho
Allergens; Child; Rhinitis; Rhinitis, Allergic