Abstract
The incidence of allergic rhinitis (AR) has increased rapidly in Taiwan during the past 30 years; however, potential risk factors of AR have yet to be examined. The purpose of this study is to explore the prevalence, personal and environmental risk factors of rhinitis. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 26418 first graders (6–8 years old) in Taipei with a response rate of 94.6% (24999/26418). Modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaires were completed by their parents or main caregivers. Logistic regression was used to examine possible personal and environmental (in early life and current) factors related to rhinitis. The prevalence of rhinitis in the past 12 months was 42.8% in 6–8 years old children. Multivariate logistic regression analysis for both males and females revealed that male gender, antibiotic use in first year of life, bronchiolitis before the age of two years, diagnosed asthma, and diagnosed eczema, having a cat the first year of life were associated with an increased risk of rhinitis. Having older siblings, on the other hand, may reduce the risk of rhinitis. Based on the present study, we may recommend less use of antibiotics the first year of life and not having a cat in the home in the child’s first year of life as preventive measures to reduce the risk of rhinitis. From the subgroup analysis, we can take preventive measures for the different risk factors of rhinitis and the severity of rhinitis in each subgroup.
Highlights
The most common chronic pediatric disorder [1,2], is an inflammatory condition of the nasal mucosa in which the mucous membrane overreacts when exposed to allergens that are idle in normal subjects
Male Female body mass index (BMI) Overweight/ obesity Underweight/ normal Type of delivery C/S NSD Antibiotic use in the first year of life Yes No Bronchiolitis before the age of two Yes No Birth weight Underweight (
Male Female BMI Overweight/ obesity Underweight/ normal Type of delivery C/S NSD Antibiotic use in the first year of life Yes No Bronchiolitis before the age of two Yes No Birth weight Underweight (
Summary
The most common chronic pediatric disorder [1,2], is an inflammatory condition of the nasal mucosa in which the mucous membrane overreacts when exposed to allergens that are idle in normal subjects. This annoying problem is common in Taiwan with island climate. Non-allergic responses of nasal membrane is the main feature of AR, i.e., an increased response to normal stimulations that induce sneezing, nasal mucosa congestion (blocked nose), together with increased secretion (running nose).
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