Background: When it comes to treating children with respiratory allergies and allergic rhinitis, allergen-specific immunotherapy is a crucial choice.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of immunotherapy (AIT) on quality of life in children with allergic rhinitis.
Subjects and methods: In a randomized-controlled trial we conducted this study at Pediatric Outpatient Clinic at Zagazig University Hospitals on 40 pediatrics with allergic rhinitis, randomly allocated into 2 equal groups: the Immunotherapy group received (AIT + pharmacotherapy) and pharmacotherapy group received pharmacotherapy only.
Results: The quality of life score started to show significant improvement after five weeks of start of immunotherapy for immunotherapy group and this improvement continued till the end of six months therapy, Total Nasal Symptoms (TNS) score started to show significant improvement after six weeks of start of immunotherapy for immunotherapy group and this improvement continued till the end of six months therapy. Significant improvement occurred in quality of life questionnaire score and in Total Nasal symptoms score among the immunotherapy group with a percentage of 77.97% and 81.67% respectively. There was statistically significant relation between percentage of improvement in quality of life questionnaire score and seasonality (Perennial Allergic Rhinitis is associated with better improvement).
Conclusion: Subcutaneous Immunotherapy was safe and effective in the treatment of the Allergic Rhinitis in children. It resulted in significant improvement in QoL and symptoms through the study period, and this improvement was higher than in the pharmacotherapy only group. Subcutaneous immunotherapy was associated with minor adverse events.