Prevalence and prediction of allergic rhinitis using questionnaire and nasal smear examination in schoolchildren

Allergic rhinitis is a common condition among schoolchildren. However, litt le is known about the prevalence of nasal eosinophilia. We investigated the prevalence of rhinitis via questionnaire and nasal smears for eosinophils. The questionnaire was administered in 1992 and 1995. Complete responses we re obtained from 1044 and 431 schoolchildren, respectively, of whom 26.5% a nd 22.5% claimed to have nasal symptoms. Nasal smears were taken in 1992, 1 993 and 1994, and 415, 285 and 384 samples were collected, respectively. Po sitive eosinophilia were seen in 39.8%, 35.1% and 35.9% children in 1992, 1 993 and 1994, respectively. In 1992, we utilized both questionnaire and nas al smears simultaneously to evaluate 415 schoolchildren. Of 415 schoolchild ren, 72 (17.3%) had both nasal symptoms and nasal eosinophilia. Interesting ly, those who showed positive eosinophilia in 1992, especially those who ha d eosinophilia with nasal symptoms. had significantly higher incidence of n asal symptoms three years later in 1995 than those who showed negative eosi nophilia in 1992. These results suggest that nasal eosinophilia in schoolch ildren are associated with subsequent nasal symptoms, and that nasal smear examination may be a potentially valuable test to predict prolonged or recu rrent allergic rhinitis.