Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2008 Feb;51(2):141-147.

Impact of Symptomatic Allergic Rhinitis on Attention and Development of Personality and Behavior in Children

• Lee YC
• Kim SW
• Shin SY
• Kim YH
• Ban GH
• Cho JS

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Allergic rhinitis reduces the quality of life as a result of suffering from symptoms and possibly of impaired cognition and performance. The difference in attention and development of personality and behavior between the symptomatic children group and normal children was evaluated to delineate more clearly the impact of allergic rhinitis on children.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
The comparison of allergic symptoms, attentiveness, cognitive function, development of personality and behaviors as well as the parenting style of 38 patients with symptomatic allergic rhinitis and 31 healthy controls were matched for intelligence, age and sex. The clinical analysis was carried out by a pediatric psychologist who interpreted the results.
RESULTS
A defective frontal lobe function and decreased constant concentration were observed in allergic rhinitis group. There was a significant decrease in verbal development and performance development in the allergic rhinitis group. Parents of allergic rhinitis group were found to have said some swear words or hurt child's feeling by using bad language.
CONCLUSION
Allergic rhinitis group was more deteriorated compared to the control group in regards to attentiveness, frontal lobe function, verbal and performance development, thus we can say that allergic rhinitis can affect attention, cognitive function and personality development of the child.

Keyword

Allergic rhinitis; Attention; Cognitive function

MeSH Terms

Child
Cognition
Frontal Lobe
Humans
Intelligence
Parenting
Parents
Personality Development
Quality of Life
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial
Stress, Psychological