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Classification of allergic rhinitis
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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For many years, the issue of classification of allergic rhinitis, including in children, has been discussed.
Factors determining the classification features of allergic rhinitis in childhood.
- Features of allergic rhinitis in different periods of childhood.
- The hereditary factor is of great importance.
- The importance of obstetric and pediatric history.
- Differences in the immunological status of children and adults.
- Features of the anatomical and physiological conditions of child development.
- Childhood infections.
- Other concomitant diseases of the ENT organs (for example, adenoids).
- Other concomitant allergic diseases (eg, false croup).
- Differences in the nature and types of allergens.
- The difference is in the course of the disease, instrumental diagnostic methods and rhinoscopic picture.
- Predominance of functional pathology of the nasal cavity over organic (edema, absence of true hypertrophy, sclerotic changes in the mucous membrane).
Limitations in treatment associated with:
- side effects;
- high risk of developing systemic disorders;
- methodological difficulties of local treatment in a child.
A distinction is made between acute episodic, seasonal and persistent allergic rhinitis.
- Acute episodic allergic rhinitis. Occurs with episodic contact with inhaled allergens (e.g., cat saliva protein, rat urine protein, house dust mite waste products).
- Seasonal allergic rhinitis. Symptoms appear during the flowering of plants (trees and grasses) that release the causative allergens.
- Allergic rhinitis, which is a year-round disease. Symptoms are observed for more than 2 hours a day or at least 9 months a year. Persistent allergic rhinitis usually occurs with sensitization to household allergens (house dust mites, cockroaches, animal dander).
According to the Consensus Document of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology EAACI "ARIA" ( Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma), the concept of "a single respiratory system, a single disease" was adopted.
The new classification of AR is based on determining the duration of its symptoms and a subjective assessment of the impact of this disease on the quality of life of patients.
Classification of allergic rhinitis by course
- Intermittent (seasonal, acute, occasional) - symptoms <4 days per week or <4 weeks.
- Persistent (year-round, chronic, long-term) - symptoms >4 days a week or >4 weeks. (Remember! A persistent course of the disease is also possible with seasonal allergic rhinitis!)
Classification of allergic rhinitis by severity
- Mild: normal sleep; normal daily activities, sports, recreation; normal work or school activities; no bothersome symptoms.
- Moderate/severe: symptoms are present that result in at least one of the following signs: sleep disturbance, daily activity disturbance, inability to play sports, normal rest; impairment of professional activity or school performance.
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