New concepts in pediatric rhinitis
Nikolaos G. Papadopoulos, Xenophon Aggelides, Sofia Stamataki, Emmanuel Prokopakis, Michael Katotomichelakis, Paraskevi Xepapadaki
Abstract
Rhinitis-and especially allergic rhinitis (AR)-remains the most frequent hypersensitivity condition, affecting up to a quarter of the population and impacting the quality of life of individual patients and the health economy. Data, especially with respect to underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms, mainly derive from studies on adults and are subsequently extrapolated to the pediatric population. Therapeutic algorithms for children with rhinitis are long based on the same principles as in adults. We explore and describe novel aspects of rhinitis, ranging from mechanisms to disease classification, phenotypes, diagnostic and monitoring tools, and the use of treatments, with a focus on the traits of pediatric age groups.