Abstract
Objective: Through this study, we propose to study the impact of allergic rhinitis and its treatment on children’s sleep quality.
Methods: We conducted a prospective longitudinal study conducted at the ENT department of the military hospital in Tunis during the period from 2019 to 2021, including children with confirmed allergic rhinitis and aged from 4 to 16 years. The sleep assessment was judged according to Spruyt Gozal’s questionnaire and Epworth’s sleepiness scale. In children presenting symptoms suggestive of sleep-disordered breathing, respiratory polygraphy was also performed to objectively confirm the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).
Results: One hundred patients were included in our study with an average of 9.09 years. The main symptom was nasal obstruction and a common allergen was mites. Half of patients have excessive daytime sleepiness. The score of Spruyt Gozal showed that 60% of children have respiratory sleep disorders. Among the 60 symptomatic children who underwent respiratory polygraphy, OSAS was confirmed in 40 cases (66.7%). Sleep quality impairment was more pronounced in children with moderate to severe RA with a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) and a statistically significant link between elevated sleep quality scores and asthma and obesity.
Conclusion: AR constitutes a significant public health concern in children, notably due to its detrimental effects on sleep quality. Given its potential repercussions on cognitive development, behavior, and quality of life, it is essential
that clinicians systematically investigate sleep disturbances in all pediatric patients presenting with AR.
Keys words: Allergic rhinitis; Child, Quality of life; Sleep disorders; Obstructif sleep apnea syndrome.
