Nasal allergen challenge with Blomia tropicalis in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND

Local allergic rhinitis (LAR) is a well-defined phenotype in adults, but still there is little data available on children. This scarcity of data can be partly attributed to the lack of standardized protocols for Nasal Allergen Challenges (NAC) in this demographic.

METHODS

20 controls (control group) and 24 patients (rhinitis group) with allergic rhinitis diagnosis sensitized to Blomia tropicalis (Bt) underwent the NAC with Bt. The acoustic rhinometry was performed after instillation of increasing concentrations of Bt (5,000 BU/mL).

RESULTS

The median reduction in the volume of the nasal cavity in its first five centimeters (V5) by the conclusion of the NAC in the rhinitis group was markedly higher than that observed in the control group, at -22.9% (range: -21.1% to -26.2%) compared to -7.7% (ranging: -4.8% to +12.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our research demonstrates the efficacy and safety of the NAC protocol utilizing Bt in distinguishing allergic from non-allergic children.