RHINITIS IN THE FIRST 18 MONTHS OF LIFE: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND RELATIONSHIP WITH CO-MORBIDITIES AND RESPIRATORY VIRUSES

Abstract

This thesis aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of rhinitis in first 18 months of life, and to explore the role of respiratory viruses in its pathogenesis. Subjects (n=738) from the GUSTO birth cohort were followed-up from birth at 7 scheduled visits till 18th months old. The prevalence of rhinitis of at least 2 week duration was 32.1%. A subset of prolonged/recurrent rhinitis defined as rhinitis of at least 4 weeks in the first 18 months was present in 18.8%. Prolonged/recurrent rhinitis was associated with atopic co-morbidities (eczema and wheeze) and a parental history of allergies. It was also found to cause sleeping and feeding disturbances in majority of subjects. Nasal swabs collected within a month following prolonged/recurrent rhinitis episodes had significantly higher virus detection rate than at the 7 scheduled timepoints, suggesting a possible role of respiratory viruses in prolonged/recurrent rhinitis symptomatology.