SF | CPD: ALLERGOLOGY
October 2021 | Vol. 21 No. 10 www.medicalacademic.co.za
This article was independently sourced by Specialist Forum.
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Allergic rhinitis + asthma = united airways disease
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Childhood allergic rhinitis (AR), an immunoglobulin (IgE) mediated condition, usually caused by sensitisation to inhaled allergens, is often missed, mistreated and misunderstood. AR is associated with significant comorbidities, can progress to asthma, or even worsen control of existing asthma, increasing the need for hospitalisation and doctor visits, as well as medicine costs.1
K
aplan et al2 found that 59%-78% of children with asthma also have rhinitis and Giavina-Bianchi et al5p2 showed
rhinitis have asthma. Rhinitis is most commonly associated with early-onset allergic asthma. 2 A survey by the International Study of
that between 10%-40% of patients with
Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)
survey showed that asthma, rhinitis, and eczema symptoms have increased substantially over the past 15 years. The survey showed that the prevalence of AR increases from 85% in
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