Key findings
In this cross-sectional study, we performed latent class analysis to
identify distinct subgroups of children allergic rhinitis in a large
number of clinically well-defined patients with physician-diagnosed AR.
The optimal solution identified four latent classes characterized by
different patterns of allergic sensitization, clinical presentations and
comorbidities. The largest class consisted of 361 children (70.8% of
the study population) who were predominantly monosensitized to grass
pollens and had concomitant ocular symptoms. Although upper airway
symptoms were the most severe in this latent class (albeit seasonal),
the prevalence of coexisting asthma was significantly lower compared to
all other classes. 75 children (14.7%) were allocated in the AR class
characterized by predominantly house dust mite sensitization and
co-existing asthma. In this group, AR symptoms were significantly
milder, intermittent and perennial. In the third cluster, there were 39
children (%7.6) who underwent Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy. The
fourth cluster included 35 children (6.9%) sensitized to cats and/or
dogs along with grass pollens. This pattern was associated with male
gender and seasonal symptoms.