CHRONOLOGICAL CHANGE OF RHINITIS SYMPTOM PREVALENCE IN KOREAN CHILDREN WITH OR WITHOUT ALLERGIC SENSITIZATION

Abstract

Introduction It is difficult to accurately predict the natural course of allergic rhinitis. The aim of this study is to understand the change of prevalence of rhinitis symptom by age in school aged children with or without allergic sensitization. Methods Children aged from 9 to 16 who participated in the health questionnaires and skin prick test were included for this study. The distribution of sensitization and rhinitis symptoms was compared by age groups. Results In total, 1069 participants were included in this study. The group consisted of 554 females, 515 males. Also, they consist of 468 (43.8%) elementary, 321 (30%) middle, and 280 (26.2%) high school students. Rate of Allergic sensitization was increased with age (59.2%,58.3%, and 68.2%; p=0.025). Allergic sensitization rate was significantly differ in seasonal allergen (35.0%, 37.1%, and 53.9%; Conclusions As age increases in school years, prevalence of rhinitis symptom among sensitized children was decreased even though allergic sensitization rate was increased. It might be inferred that the symptoms of later sensitized subjects are relatively inexpressive, or that the symptoms are reduced along with age. A longitudinal study to explore these possibilities should be needed. It is difficult to accurately predict the natural course of allergic rhinitis. The aim of this study is to understand the change of prevalence of rhinitis symptom by age in school aged children with or without allergic sensitization. Children aged from 9 to 16 who participated in the health questionnaires and skin prick test were included for this study. The distribution of sensitization and rhinitis symptoms was compared by age groups. In total, 1069 participants were included in this study. The group consisted of 554 females, 515 males. Also, they consist of 468 (43.8%) elementary, 321 (30%) middle, and 280 (26.2%) high school students. Rate of Allergic sensitization was increased with age (59.2%,58.3%, and 68.2%; p=0.025). Allergic sensitization rate was significantly differ in seasonal allergen (35.0%, 37.1%, and 53.9%; As age increases in school years, prevalence of rhinitis symptom among sensitized children was decreased even though allergic sensitization rate was increased. It might be inferred that the symptoms of later sensitized subjects are relatively inexpressive, or that the symptoms are reduced along with age. A longitudinal study to explore these possibilities should be needed.