Quality of life in adults and children with allergic rhinitis

Quality of life, when referring to an individual's health, is called health -related quality of life (HRQL). HRQL focuses on patients' perceptions of t heir disease and measures Impairments that have significant impact on the p atient. Similar symptoms may vary in their effect on different individuals; the goal of therapy should be to reduce impairments that patients consider important. HRQL can be measured with generic or specific questionnaires. S pecific questionnaires may be more sensitive and are much more likely to de tect clinically important changes in patients' impairments. Specific questi onnaires used to assess HRQL in rhinitis are the Rhinoconjunctivitis Qualit y of Life Questionnaire, the Adolescent Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the Pediatric Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Quest ionnaire. HRQL issues in adult rhinitis patients include fatigue, decrease in energy, general health perception, and social function; impairment of HQ RL generally increases with increasing degree of symptoms and severity of d isease. In children, HRQL issues include learning impairment, inability to integrate with peers, anxiety, and family dysfunction. Comorbid disorders o ften associated with rhinitis, including sinusitis, otitis media, and frequ ent respiratory infections, can further compromise HRQL. Pharmacologic trea tments can have both positive and negative effects on HRQL. Agents that hav e troublesome adverse effects such as sedation can have a negative impact, whereas nonsedating antihistamines and intranasal corticosteroids can signi ficantly improve HRQL in patients of all ages with rhinitis.