[Analysis of symptoms and quality of life in children with allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate symptoms and quality of life in children with allergic rhinitis, and to evaluate the correlations among the skin prick tests results, symptoms and quality of life.

METHOD: Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the symptoms severity, rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) was used to assess quality of life, the skin prick tests results were recorded, and statistics analysis was carried out among them.

RESULT: (1) There were significant differences among the five aspects of RQLQ (F = 32.03, P < 0.01), nasal symptoms aspect was the most affected aspect of quality of life, moreover, there were significant differences among all the items of RQLQ (F = 7.35, P < 0.01), the scores of nasal blockage, sneezing and rhinorrhea were the highest, there were no significant differences among them. (2) VAS was significantly correlated with RQLQ, moreover, the scores of unable to get to sleep and embarrassed by symptoms were significantly correlated with rhinorrhea VAS scores (r = 0.230, P < 0.05; r = 0.325, P < 0.01), the score of wake up during the night was significantly correlated with nasal itching and sneezing VAS scores (r = 0.385, P < 0.01; r = 0.231, P < 0.05), the score of can't concentrate was significantly correlated with the scores of unable to get to sleep and wake up during the night (r = 0.316, P < 0.01; r = 0.525, P < 0.01), the score of irritable was significantly correlated with the scores of unable to get to sleep (r = 0.243, P < 0.05). (3) The results of the skin prick tests were related with VAS and RQLQ.

CONCLUSION

Nasal symptoms severity may significantly correlated with the quality of life. Rhinorrhea, nasal itching and sneezing may be the main factors affecting the quality of sleep, while the quality of sleep may affect non-hay-fever symptoms and emotions, rhinorrhea may be the main factor affecting embarrassed by symptoms. The allergen level was related with the symptoms severity and quality of life.