Can an otorhinolaryngological visit induce the suspect of allergic rhinitis in children?

Summary: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is very frequent in childhood. AR is commonly associated with some co-morbidities and typical clinical features. This study aimed to test the hypothesis whether an otorhinolaryngological (ORL) visit could induce the suspect of AR. Globally, 1,002 children (550 males, mean age 5.77 years) were consecutively visited at an ORL clinic. Clinical visit, nasal endoscopy, and skin prick test were performed in all patients. In particular, history investigated atopic familiarity, birth, feeding type, passive smoking, comorbidities, including asthma, respiratory infections, otitis media, respiratory sleep disorder. Endoscopy assessed the tonsil and adenoid volume, turbinate contacts, mucosal color, and nasal discharge. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. The study showed that 547 (54.6%) children had AR. Some parameters were predicting factor for suspecting AR: middle turbinate contact (OR = 9.27), familial atopy (OR = 6.24), pale nasal mucosa (OR = 4.95), large adenoid volume (OR = 3.02 for score 4), and asthma co-morbidity (OR = 2.95). In conclusion this real-life study showed that during an ORL visit it is possible to suspect AR in children with turbinate hypertrophy, familial atopy, nasal pale mucosa, adenoid enlargement, and asthma comorbidity.