Child and Chest Health Care Delhi NCR

INTRODUCTION

 

Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory condition of nasal mucosa.

• It is a major chronic respiratory disease of children as it badly affects the quality of life and school performance of children
• It is most common chronic condition in children
• 20 -40% children of affluent societies suffer from this condition
• Its symptoms may appear in infancy and the diagnosis is generally established by the age of 6 years
• Risk factors include family history of atopy and serum IgE level more than 100 IU/ml before age 6 years.
• Up to 78% patients with asthma have AR and 38% of patients with AR have asthma.

 

Etiology

Two factors necessary for the development of AR are sensitivity to an allergen and the presence of allergen in the environment.

 

• Inhalant allergens are the main cause of AR.
• In India, spring season, February to April is flowering season of trees, in which so many pollens are in the air ,which is potent inhalant allergen.
• In temperate climates, trees pollinate in spring, grasses in early summer and weeds in late summer.
• In temperate climates, mold spores persists outdoor only in the summer and in warm climates, mold spores persist throughout the year.
• Other common allergens are dust mites,pet danders,and cockroaches.

 

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS:

 

Symptoms of pediatric allergic rhinitis include the following:

 

• Rhinorrhea
• Nasal congestion
• Postnasal drainage
• Repetitive sneezing
• Itching of the palate, nose, or eyes
• Snoring
• Frequent sore throats
• Constant clearing of the throat
• cough
• Headaches
• Epistaxis due to nose picking habits secondary to itching of nose
• Abnormal sleep pattern due to frequent awakening during night sleep secondary to nose block

 

CLINICAL SIGNS:

Allergic Salute

Allergic Shiner

Dennie Morgan Fold

 Signs:

• Allergic salute
• Allergic shiners (dark, puffy, lower eyelids),
• Morgan-Dennie lines (lines under the lower eyelid),
• Transverse crease at lower third of nose secondary to allergic salute
• Allergic gape  as the child keeps the mouth constantly open to breathe through it.
• Eyes: Marked erythema of palpebral conjunctivae and papillary hypertrophy of tarsal conjunctivae; chemosis of the conjunctivae, usually with a watery discharge; cataracts from severe rubbing secondary to itching
• Ears: Chronic infection or middle ear effusion
• Nose: Enlarged turbinates with pale-bluish mucosa due to edema; clear or white nasal discharge (rarely yellow or green); dried blood secondary to trauma from nose rubbing; rarely, polyps (if polyps detected on rhinoscopy, mandatory workup for cystic fibrosis in children)
• Throat: Discoloration of frontal incisors, high arched palate, and malocclusion associated with chronic mouth breathing (allergic gape); cobblestoning in the posterior pharynx ( Aggregation of lymphoid tissues which appears like cobblestones)secondary to chronic nasal congestion and postnasal drainage

Classification based on severity of symptoms

 

This classification in accordance to ARIA guidelines(allergic rhinitis impact on asthma)has replaced the older classification  of seasonal AR and perennial AR.

 

INVESTIGATION: Diagnosis is mainly clinical

 

• Skin prick test is the gold standard
• Total serum IgE indicate allergy to many allergens
• RAST(Radio-allegro-sorbent assay) indicate allery to specific allergen
• Blood eosinophilia may be helpful
• Eosinophils in nasal smear has good positive predictive value
• Imaging study may help but not mandatory

 

TREATMENT:

 

1 . Allergen avoidance– which is not possible all the time as the child may be allergic to  so many allergens. Allergen proof bed and pillow coverings may reduce the exposure to mite allergen.Bed linen and blankets should be washed every week with hot water(>130dF).

 

2. Antihistaminics -this is the first line treatment mainly effective for mild intermittent AR, may be beneficial for moderate  intermittent   AR. Second generation antihistamines  are preferred as they cause less sedation.

CETRIZINE:6months -24months: 2.5mg once daily in the evening

2-6years :2.5mg to 5mg once or twice daily

more than 6 years 5-10 mg once or twice daily.

LEVOCETRIZINE: 6-12 years:2.5mg once daily in the evening

more than 12 years: 5mg once daily in the evening

DESLORATADINE: -6months to 12months:1mg once daily

1 year to 5years:.1.25mg once daily

6years to 12years: 2.5mg once daily

more than12 years: 5mg once daily

FEXOFENADINE-2-11Years :30mg bd; 12 years and above 60mg bd or 180mg once daily

LORATADINE-2-5 Years 5mg once daily;>6 years 10mg once daily;more effective when given  empty stomach

 

3. INTRANASAL CORTICOSTEROID-this is second line treatment for AR ,most  effective to control all the symptoms and for             maintenanc  therapy.

 

MOMETASONE:recommended for 2years of age and above ,in the form of nasal spray,one spray (50mcg) into each nostril, once daily

 

FLUTICASONE: recommended for 4 years of age and above,in the form of nasal spray,one spray (50mcg) into each nostril,once daily.

 

BUDESONIDE:recommended for 6 years of age and above,in the form of nasal spray,one spray(100mcg)  into each nostril,once daily.

 

TRIAMCENOLONE: recently FDA has approved its use for children 2 years of age and  above,in the form of nasal spray,.one spray into each nostril ,once daily.

 

• Study has proved that there is no effect on growth of child after long term use.
• Troublesome adverse effect is epistaxis.
• Technique of taking it intranasally  should be accurate for it to be effective.

 

Technique:

 

• make the child to sit comfortably and slightly lean forward
• ask him to blow the nose gently if possible
• block one nostril with index finger of your left hand
• shake the bottle well with your right hand
• hold the spray bottle upright with index finger and middle finger on either side off nozzle and thumb on the base
• insert the tip of nozzle into open nostril
• ask the child to inhale through open nostril
• as the child starts inhaling ,release the drug by suddenly pressuring over the base of nozzle
• ask him to exhale through mouth
• repeat the process on other side

 

4  Intranasal antihistamine: useful only for acute symtoms

 

• not well studied in children below 5 years of age

 

AZELASTINE:6-12 years:one spray(140mcg) into each nostril bd,

 

;more than 12 years :1-2 sprays into each nostril bd

 

5 Intranasal  ipratropium:useful only for rhinorrhea

 

• not well studied in children below 5 years of age.

 

6 Monteleukast orally alone or in combination with antihistamine is effective for long  term use

 

7 Immunotherapy:Indicated in children not well controlled with other medication or  having toxic adverse effects with other medications.

 

• very effective in well chosen children
• not well studied in children beloe 5 years of age

8 Nasal irrigation with hypertonic saline is effective and inexpensive ;

 

9 Adrenergic agonist: Oxymetazoline-for symptomatic relief of nasal mucosal congestion

 

0.05% solution,instill 2-3 spray into each nostril twice daily

 

therapy should not exceed for more than 3 days

 

should not be repeated more than once a month

 

10.SLIT(sublingual immunotherapy) is a new modality: medicine is kept under tongue  once  daily

 

• Oralair(slit-medicine) has been recently approved by FDA for the age of 10 years and above: effective only if allergic to single aeroallergen
• Grastek is another SLIT medicine extracted from grass,recently approved by FDA for use in children 5 years of age and above

 

Bibliography

 

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Nelson HS: Allergen immunotherapy: where is it now?. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 119:769-779 2007 17337297

 

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Wahn W, Taber A, Kuna P, et al.: Efficacy and safety of 5-grass-pollen sublingual immunotherapy tablets in pediatric allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 123:160-166 2009 19046761

 

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