Abstract
It is difficult to diagnose allergic rhinitis (AR) less than 5 years old, especially less than 3 years old. The diagnosis for AR requires the detection of serum antigen-specific IgE and detailed medical interview.
A younger age of onset of AR has recently become a problem in Japan. We examined the prevalence of AR in children undergoing 18-month infant health checks provided by local government. Among 408 infants, 10.7% had antigen-specific IgE (mite, cat or Japanese cedar pollen) , 7.1% had nasal eosinophils, and 2.0% had both.
Since several anti-histamines have been supported by health insurance for pediatric AR recently, it is easy to treat for patients with pediatric AR. The addition of anti-leukotriene or nasal steroid to anti-histamines is effective for the stuffy nose.
Sublingual immunotherapy for the seasonal AR caused by Japanese cedar pollen has been applied for the indication of health insurance. We will have a chance to choose sublingual immunotherapy for AR patients over 12 years.
