General Medical Information

Rhinitis among Children

Shawn D. Newlands

Rhinitis is a common problem for children. Children 2 to 6 years old have viral rhinitis about six times a year. Ten percent of children and 20% of adolescents have allergic rhinitis. Chronic bacterial rhinitis among children can be caused by an immunologic disorder, cystic fibrosis, or structural defects such as cleft palate. Nasal polyposis in a child should initiate an evaluation for cystic fibrosis. Purulent unilateral rhinorrhea suggests the presence of a foreign body. Rhinitis can be caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease, particularly among premature infants. This condition is managed by means of thickening feedings, keeping the infant upright during feeding, and not placing the infant flat after feedings. Development of food allergies is more common in infancy than later in life, but food allergy rarely causes rhinitis in the absence of other organ system symptoms. Nasal obstruction is more common among children than among adults because of the incidence of adenoidal hypertrophy.