Objective We aim to investigate the clinical characteristics of allergic rhinitis (AR) in children.
Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at pediatrics clinic in a tertiary referral hospital, Cipto Mangunkusmo Hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia, during 2010-2011.
Results Out of 112 AR diagnosed patients, 60.7% were boys. Most common age was under 5 years old (49.9%) with median of 4.65 (range 2 months–17 years old). The most common symptoms were rhinorrhea (93.7%) and cough (83.9%). In general, patients had atopy (72,3%) and family history of atopy (78.6%). Duration of illness mostly was more than 2 weeks (75.9%). Based on interview, cold air had been the most common triggering factor (54.5%), followed by food (12.5%) and dust (9.8%). The most common signs were allergic shiner (9.8%). The second generation of antihistamine (58.9%) and intranasal steroid (28.6%) were the most prescribed drug. Asthma (9.8%) as the comorbidity only found in 9.8%, while rhinosinusitis as the complication occurred in 12.5%.
Conclusion Younger age was found in most of the cases. The most frequent type of AR is persistent AR. Despite of high number of atopic history only a small proportion of children have asthma .