More than a "runny nose" - allergic rhinitis and asthma

Author: V. Dimov, M.D., Allergist/Immunologist and Assistant Professor at University of Chicago
Reviewer: S. Randhawa, M.D., Allergist/Immunologist and Assistant Professor at NSU

An 11-year-old Caucasian boy is referred by his primary care physician mother for nasal congestion and runny nose for years. His symptoms are not getting worse, but they are persistent. He was on fluticasone (Flonase) in the past off and on with history of noncompliance and he did not feel that Flonase helped significantly. Approximately two months ago, he started to complain of shortness of breath, dyspnea on exertion and cough. The symptoms start approximately 15 to 20 minutes after he starts exercising, and they resolve after he stops exercising. He has no night symptoms. He has symptoms throughout the year with worse nasal congestion in August and September.

Past medical history (PMH)

Allergic rhinitis.

Medications

Montelukast (Singulair) 5 mg po daily.

Social history

He is not exposed to tobacco. Pets: He has a hamster and a dog. The dog is a golden retriever.

Family history

Mother and father with allergic rhinitis, siblings with allergic rhinitis and atopic eczema.

Physical examination

Thin boy in no apparent distress.
Vital signs stable. Temperature 98.8 F, heart rate 80 bpm, respiratory rate 18, blood pressure 110/60 mm/Hg.
Skin: No rashes.
Eyes: Normal. Ears: Normal.
Nose: Pale, boggy turbinates. Throat: Normal.
Respiratory system: Clear to auscultation bilaterally, no wheezing, rhonchi or crackles. Cardiovascular system: Clear S1, S2.
Abdomen: Soft, non-tender, non-distended. Extremities: No cyanosis, clubbing, or edema.

What is the most likely diagnosis?

- Allergic rhinitis
- Asthma

What tests would you suggest?

- Skin prick testing
- Spirometry

Skin prick testing was done with a positive reaction to histamine. All other allergens in the pediatric allergy panel were negative.

The baseline spirometry revealed a FVC of 80% and a FEV1 of 75%.

What tests would you suggest next?

We a performed bronchodilator test with 4 puffs of albuterol and the patient’s values improved greatly. His FEV1 improved by 24% from 1.45 liters to 1.81 liters, which satisfied the criteria for positive bronchodilator test for asthma. His FVC improved by 14% and his FEF-25-75% volumes improved by 56%.

What happened?

This is a patient with asthma with symptoms of exercise-induced bronchospasm and the diagnosis was confirmed by a 24% improvement in FEV1 on the bronchodilator test. We prescribed fluticasone (Flovent Diskus) 100 mcg, one inhalation b.i.d. He has also symptoms of allergic/ non-allergic rhinitis and for that, we prescribed budesonide (Rhinocort) nasal spray one spray in each nostril daily. He is to follow up with us in two months.

Final diagnosis

Asthma with symptoms of exercise-induced bronchospasm. Allergic and non-allergic rhinitis.

Summary

Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease, affecting up to 10% of adults and 30% of children (JACI, 2011).

Most patients with asthma have rhinitis suggesting the concept of ‘one airway one disease’ or ‘united airways’.

Prevalence of asthma in:

- patients without rhinitis - less than 2%
- patients with rhinitis - 10-40%

Most patients with allergic or nonallergic asthma present with rhinitis symptoms. However, not all patients with rhinitis present with asthma.

Many patients with allergic rhinitis have an increased bronchial reactivity to methacholine.

Childhood allergic rhinitis is associated with a 2- to 7-fold increased risk of asthma in preadolescence, adolescence, or adult life.

On average, childhood allergic rhinitis was associated with a 3-fold increased risk of childhood asthma persisting compared with remitting by middle age. Asthma burden in later life might be reduced by more aggressive treatment of allergic rhinitis in early life.

It is not clear if treatment of one airway will improve symptoms of the other site.

The 1999 WHO workshop ‘Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma’ recommended:

- patients with persistent allergic rhinitis should be evaluated for asthma by history, chest examination, and possibly assessment of airflow obstruction before and after bronchodilator

- history and examination of the upper respiratory tract for allergic rhinitis should be performed in patients with asthma



Treatment Options for Allergic Rhinitis (click to enlarge the image).

References

Childhood allergic rhinitis predicts asthma incidence and persistence to middle age: A longitudinal study. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007 Sep 6.
Links between allergic rhinitis and asthma still reinforced. P. Demoly, P. J. Bousquet (2008). Allergy 63 (3), 251–254.
Serum eosinophil granule proteins predict asthma risk in allergic rhinitis. Nielsen LP, Peterson CG, Dahl R. Allergy. 2008 Dec 24.

Related reading

How to predict risk of developing asthma in allergic rhinitis? Use serum eosinophil granule proteins ECP and EPO
Forced expiratory flow between 25-75% of vital capacity may be a marker of bronchial impairment in allergic rhinitis http://goo.gl/yTNW2
Rhinitis is common in asthma and impairs asthma control. Allergy. 2011.
What symptom works best for diagnosis of allergic rhinitis? The answer has been the same for years: eye itching (http://goo.gl/koioJ).
Poor asthma control? – then look up the nose. The importance of co-morbid rhinitis in patients with asthma http://goo.gl/0nNZg

Published: 02/11/2009
Updated: 05/11/2012

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent educational material
Greetings from Peru
Juan Carlos Aldave
Resident in Allergy and Immunology

Allergy Cases said...

Glad you find the website useful, Juan. You can contribute as well.

Anonymous said...

Please follow the guidelines. You do not start a patient on combination therapy (e.g. Advair). Most children will respond very well to an inhaled corticosteroid alone. This case will send out the wrong message that combination devices should be used first line.

Anonymous said...

Please disregard the last comment. I must have misread the case. I had read Advair, but the patient had been appropriately started on an inhaled corticosteroid alone.