Early risk and protective factors for allergic rhinitis in children: A cross-sectional study

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common inflammatory diseases, leading to health and economic burdens. Genetic and environmental factors may influence the development of AR in early life. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 320 pediatric patients from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Ophthalmology - Maxillofacial Surgery, the Department of Pediatrics at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, and the Pediatric Center of Hue Central Hospital between April 2022 and December 2023. Data on allergies, clinical history, family background, and environmental factors were collected through a parent-reported survey based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) for potential factors contributing to AR. Results: The proportion of children with current AR was 29% in the 6-7-year-old group, 26.2% in the 13-14-year-old group, and 28.1% across all groups. Parental allergy (adjusted OR 2.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28-4.66), maternal age (1.85, 1.05-3.26), and history of eczema (1.95, 1.06-3.59) were independently associated with increased risks of AR. In stratified analyses, there was evidence that prolonged breastfeeding ≥12 months and dog exposure decreased the risk of AR in the 6-7-year-old group. Conclusions: Certain environmental and genetic factors were associated with AR in children aged 6-7 and 13-14 within a small contemporary pediatric outpatient cohort. However, a large-scale study is needed to validate these findings.