Abstract

Introduction. Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common chronic condition in children and often overdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary and costly testing.

Materials and Methods. This retrospective study reviewed data from 111 children aged 3–17 years, assessed for AR during routine outpatient visits. A standardized questionnaire was administered as part of clinical practice, and diagnoses were confirmed through allergy testing.

Results. Family history of atopy was a strong risk factor for AR (OR=2.43), while symptoms like mucopurulent rhinorrhea, wet cough, snoring, and sleep apnea were inversely associated. A cut-off based on ≥2 negative responses to inversely correlated items helped identify low-risk patients.

Discussion. This tool, developed from clinical and anamnesis data collected during the diagnostic process, showed high sensitivity (92.86%) and negative predictive value (80%), supporting its use in primary care to screen for AR and avoid unnecessary testing.

Conclusions. This simple, non-invasive questionnaire is a promising screening method to improve AR diagnosis and reduce healthcare burden, especially in resource-limited settings

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Cristina Serio - Department of Pediatrics and Emergency, Regional Referral Center for Pediatric Allergy, Pulmonology and Immuno-Rheumatology, “Giovanni XXIII” Pediatric Hospital, Bari, Italy

Carla Mastrorilli - Department of Pediatrics and Emergency, Regional Referral Center for Pediatric Allergy, Pulmonology and Immuno-Rheumatology, “Giovanni XXIII” Pediatric Hospital, Bari, Italy

Fabio Cardinale - Department of Pediatrics and Emergency, Regional Referral Center for Pediatric Allergy, Pulmonology and Immuno-Rheumatology, “Giovanni XXIII” Pediatric Hospital, Bari, Italy

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Copyright (c) 2025 Italian Journal of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology

How to Cite
Serio, C., Mastrorilli, C., & Cardinale, F. (2025). Development and clinical applicability of a questionnaire for screening allergic rhinitis in children: a retrospective study. Italian Journal of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 39(2). https://doi.org/10.53151/2531-3916/2025-1328
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