Allergic and non-allergic rhinitis in children: relationship to clinical symptoms and nasal smear cytology

Symptoms of rhinitis with positive allergic tests allow to diagnose allergic rhinitis (AR) in some children. In others, non-allergic rhinitis (Non-AR) could be diagnosed after the elimination of other rare causes. The aim of the study. To evaluate the relative prevalence and relationship between clinical symptoms and cytology of nasal smear in schoolchildren with AR and Non-AR. Material and methods. The standardized questionnaire and clinical examination evaluated symptoms of respiratory system and the environmental risk factors. Allergen skin tests and cytology of nasal smears were the additional differential factors. Results. Chronic rhinitis was diagnosed in 112 (71%) out of 141 children included in the study. Out of 112 children in 63 (56%) of them and in 49 (44%) -ANN and Non-ANN respectively were diagnosed. Eosinophilic rhinitis (> 10% of eosinophils in nasal smear) was present in all children with AR and in 90% (44/ 49) -with Non-AR. The relative risk of rhinoconjuctivitis symptoms was lower for Non-AR than for AR (OR=0,480; 95% CI: 0,223-1,033; p=0,060), but out of all rhinitis symptoms in the last week, only the obstruction was significantly more frequent in Non-AR (OR=3,791; 95% CI1,578-9,108; p=0,003). Moreover, the risk of occurrence of wheeze in the last year significantly increased for Non-AR in comparison to AR (OR=2,653; 95% CI: 1,151-6,112; p=0,022). Similarly, passive smoking and allergic diseases in siblings increased the risk of Non-AR occurrence, respectively: OR=2,909; 95% CI 1,154-7,332; p=0,024 and OR=2,468; 95% CI 1,048-5,809; p=0,039. Conclusion. The relative prevalence and clinical symptoms are similar for AR and Non-AR in schoolchildren, but the probability of nasal obstruction and wheeze is higher for Non-AR. Passive smoking is a risk factor of Non-AR in children.