Double Trouble: High Prevalence of Rhinitis in Asthma

Investigators from multiple institutions conducted a prospective study to determine the prevalence of rhinitis, and specific clinical manifestations of rhinitis (phenotypes), in children and adolescents with asthma. Study participants were enrolled in the Asthma Phenotypes in the Inner City study that was a longitudinal assessment of youth 6–17 years old with asthma from 9 urban areas. For the study, enrolled youth had a baseline visit followed by visits every 2 months for a year. The presence of rhinitis in a study participant was classified as “no rhinitis,” “possible rhinitis,” and “probable rhinitis,” based on a history of symptoms or previous physician diagnosis. For those classified with possible/probable rhinitis, a history of seasonality was obtained. Skin testing was performed, and aeroallergen-specific serum IgE levels …