Quality of life of children with allergic rinitis and ways of correction

Abstract

Introduction. Allergic rhinitis is a common disorder that significantly impairs the children’s quality of life. The problem is particularly pertinent in relation to the paediatric population living in areas with advanced manufacturing industries, where well-known trigger factors, being added by increased concentration of pollutants in the atmospheric air, further complicate the selection of an effective course of treatment.Aim. To determine the effectiveness of a course of treatment with an antihistamine medicine Cetirizine based on the assessment of quality-of-life criteria for children with intermittent allergic rhinitis (IAR) in the Chelyabinsk region.Materials and methods. A prospective study of 147 children with respiratory allergic diseases living in the Chelyabinsk region was conducted. The quality of life of children who received a course of treatment with the antihistamine medicine was assessed using the Paediatric Quality-of-Life inventory (PedsQL) that consisted of combined Likert scales (school life, social, physical functioning, etc.), clinical symptoms were assessed using a developed visual analogue scale.Results and discussion. The assessment findings confirmed that the use of Cetirizine in the complex therapy of intermittent allergic rhinitis and associated comorbid conditions made it possible to significantly improve the clinical symptoms and quality of life of children over the entire treatment period.The most striking positive response in the form of decreased nasal obstruction was seen during the prescribed treatment in patients of Groups 1 and 2. Thus, the filling VAS ratings for children with mild to moderate IAR showed that only 10 (20%) patients in Group 1 experienced mild nasal breathing difficulty. Patients with severe IAR reported a decrease in nasal obstruction only by the end of two-month treatment.Conclusion. Cetirizine demonstrated a good effect of blocking H1-histamine receptors, high bioavailability, good tolerability and safety in the treatment of allergic rhinitis in children with comorbid conditions.