Allergic Rhinitis In Children

Rhinitis is an inflammation of the upper respiratory tract characterized by the symptoms of the watery nose (rhinorrhea), nasal congestion, sneezing that occurs for two or more consecutive days, and lasts more than an hour and most of the day.

Allergic Rhinitis based on Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) classifies Rhinitis into Allergic Rhinitis/Allergy Rhinitis (AR) and Non-allergy Rhinitis/Non-Allergy Rhinitis (NAR) This is based on the presence or no allergic sensitization. AR arises due to mechanisms that are mediated by IgE and are usually characterized by additional symptoms of reddish itching eyes (conjunctivitis). NAR has several possible triggers including infection, hormonal, occupation, and idiopathic (which is why it has not been known for sure/later is called Vasomotor rhinitis). The comprehensive procedure of allergic Rhinitis includes avoidance of allergens, medications to reduce symptoms, and relapse. The medications used depend on the weight of the disease. The provision of medicines/pharmacotherapy is limited to children, especially those under 2 years old. In mild Allergic Rhinitis with rare relapse, the medication that can be used is an antihistamine. While when allergic rhinitis is severe or with frequent relapse, the child will be asked to use a nasal spray medication that contains very low-dose steroids to reduce inflammatory reactions to the nose.

The long-time use of antihistamine drugs and nasal spray steroids is varied and can last up to about 6 months depending on the weight of the disease. For symptoms that are very severe and cannot be handled with antihistamines and steroid nasal spray medications, it can be considered administering immunotherapy. This immunotherapy aims to allow the old body to adapt to allergen allergic causes. The comprehensive and optimal treatment of allergic Rhinitis is expected to prevent complications, preventing allergic Rhinitis from continuing to adulthood, and maintaining the overall quality of the child's life.

Children are also required to be able to clean their nose periodically so that not much of a piece is stacked in the nose. If allergic rhinitis is accompanied by asthma or sinusitis, medication for asthma and sinusitis is required. Antibiotics are only used when the child is experiencing acute sinusitis characterized by fever, heavy head pain/sinus Press pain. Although not seen as a life-threatening condition, it also becomes a significant burden on the quality of life of the sufferers and their caregivers and affects the economic life of the sufferer's family. A recent pediatric survey conducted on children aged 4-17 years in the United States showed that rhinitis affects both the quality of life of the work and the sleep patterns of the sufferer and the caregivers of the sufferer. In addition to the direct effects on the cost of treatment, it gives indirect effect on morbidity/disease in the form of asthma, namely that rhinitis increases the number of outpatient visits and asthma sufferers.

Viral infections of the respiratory tract may be instrumental in the course of long-term rhinitis disease. The complications of rhinitis in this age group include otitis media with effusion, adenoidal hypertrophy, and asthma, making important considerations in the management of these children's patients.

Symptoms of rhinitis can already be observed since preschool age. In some studies that have been done that found in children who are experiencing allergic rhinitis can increase the tendency of increasing the prevalence rate of rhinitis incidence in adolescent age.

Rhinitis in children less than 6 years of age can result in even very rare nasal polyps. In addition to polyps, rhinitis can result in sinusitis is accompanied by the symptoms of there are lumpy thick nasal fluid to greenish/mucopurulent, nasal congestion, headaches with pain press on the face, and pain press on the ear is a common symptom of sinusitis.

Diagnostic confirmations require endoscopic examination and Sinus CT Scan. Endoscopic examination is difficult for young children. Also, the CT Scan examination exposes the child to considerable radiation. Therefore, the diagnosis of sinusitis in children is quite challenging for clinicians and often has to rely on clinical symptoms. Besides, most checks are not accompanied by an allergy test, therefore an AR diagnosis is temporary. It could be that AR symptoms in this age group are not sensitive enough to diagnose AR patients.