Pediatric allergic conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis

Abstract

Objective To assess the relationship between allergic conjunctivitis(AC) and allergic rhinitis(AR) in pediatric ophthalmology and E.N.T outpatient clinic. Methods Eight hundred and ninety two patients were enrolled in survey during Mar. 2005∼Jan. 2007, 407 allergic conjunctivitis cases were placed in the ophthalmology clinic group and 485 allergic rhinitis cases were from the E.N.T clinic. The comorbid disorders, histories, symptoms, signs of patients were recorded. Type 1 allergy was tested in 479 cases by a specific IgE antibody blood test. Eosinophils were detected in superficial conjunctival scrapings of the superior tarsal conjunctiva and mucosa surface scrapings of middle nasal meatus in 88 cases with both diseases. Results 302(74%), 374(92%), 116(29%) in 407 cases with allergic conjunctivitis had concomitant eczema, rhinitis and asthma, respectively; 334(69%), 430(89%), 145(30%) in 485 cases with allergic rhinitis had concomitant eczema, allergic conjunctivitis and asthma, respectively. The prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis concomitant allergic rhinitis and allergic rhinitis concomitant allergic conjunctivitis had no significant difference(x 2=2.6, P > 0.05). The prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis concomitant eczema and asthma also had no significant difference (x 2=3.08; x 2=0.21, P > 0.05). The degree of severity of two kinds of disease symptoms is not parallel, in the patients with seasonal allergic conjuctivitis(SAC) and perennial allergic conjunctivitis(PAC), the clinical signs of AR were always severer(x 2=258.2, P < 0.05) than those of AC. However, the results coincided with the cases with vernal keratoconjuctivitis(VKC)(x 2=66.5, P < 0.05); Eosinophils were revealed in 50(57%) conjunctival scrapings and nasal mucosa scrapings(x 2=1.5, P > 0.05), 47(53%) cases had positive results in both scrapings. The main aeroallergens were house dust mites, house dust and fungi, and the main food-allergens were fish, crab and shrimp. Conclusion The two disorders were shown to share more similarities than differences, as suggested that allergic conjunctivitis should be considered in future guidelines on preventing the development of rhinitis and asthma in children.