CURRENT STATUS OF ALLERGIC RHINITIS IN CHILDREN (LITERATURE REVIEW)

Allergic rhinitis constitutes a significant public health concern that continues to be understudied in the paediatric population. Allergic pathology has attracted increased clinical attention over the past 30–40 years. Several factors account for this focus: steadily rising morbidity, early disease onset, diagnostic challenges in children younger than five years, insufficient effectiveness of control therapy in certain patient groups, and the absence of national preventive programmes. The past decade has been characterised by comorbidity of allergic diseases. Particular interest attaches to the position and role of allergic rhinitis within the structure of allergic pathology in children. At present, diagnosis is not always performed in a timely manner because awareness among physicians is limited and various diagnostic approaches are employed, including questionnaires not validated for children under three years of age, etc. Allergic rhinitis (AR) adversely affects patients’ quality of life, which necessitates the implementation of effective treatment principles and dynamic monitoring. The purpose of the study. To analyse the current state of research on allergic rhinitis in children on the basis of contemporary medical literature with regard to prevalence, aetiopathogenetic mechanisms, diagnostic criteria, treatment principles, the role of comorbidity, and prevention methods. Analysis results and conclusions. Analysis of recent publications on allergic rhinitis indicates that this condition remains a significant contemporary issue, particularly in children. Investigation of risk factors, prevalence, diagnostic methods, and approaches to the treatment of allergic rhinitis has revealed that these aspects are less thoroughly studied in children than in adults. Aggravating factors for the occurrence and course of allergic rhinitis were identified: environmental factors, the spectrum of causative allergens (primarily inhaled), patient age, heredity, excess body weight, and frequent use of antibacterial agents. Allergic rhinitis may negatively affect the course of asthma and necessitate a review of control therapy regimens. Allergic rhinitis disrupts sleep in children, reduces their quality of life and limits their social activity, thereby underscoring the significance of this medical and social problem. At present, preventive programmes and unified approaches to determining risk factors for allergic rhinitis in pediatric population are absent.