Analysis of Home Factors leading to the Development of Allergic Rhinitis in Children in Guangzhou, Southern China

Abstract

Objective: To analyse home factors leading to the development of Allergic Rhinitis (hereafter referred to as "AR") in children in Guangzhou, Southern China. Methods: We selected children with a history of AR who attended the Otolaryngology Clinic of Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from January 2020 to August 2020 to complete the "Home Environment Questionnaire for Children with Allergic Rhinitis" using an internet survey as well as telephone enquiries. We selected children who developed AR episodes during these 8 months as the case group and children who did not develop AR episodes as the control group to analyse independent influencing factors of home living environment leading to the development of AR in Children in Guangzhou. Results: We completed a total of 667 questionnaires from parents of children with AR, and 644 questionnaires were validly returned, with a valid return rate of 96.55%. There were 317 cases in the case group and 327 cases in the control group. Keeping pets, parents' smoking habits, bedroom orientation, living floor, frequency of plush toy cleaning, frequency of air conditioner cleaning, and frequency of bedding cleaning are all independent influencing factors of home environment leading to the development of AR in Children in Guangzhou (OR=3.618, 3.815, 7.576, 1.035, 4.030, 7.838, 5.971, P<0.05). Conclusions: A number of factors, inclusive of keeping pets, are all factors of home living environment leading to the development of AR in Children in Guangzhou, some of which require effective intervention, with particular attention to mites removal.