Comorbidities of Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a symptomatic nose disorder induced after exposure to allergens via IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions, which are characterized by 4 cardinal symptoms: nasal obstruction, watery rhinorrhea, nasal itching and sneezing. For both children and adults, AR is more than just sneezing and nose itching. Complications of this disease are numerous and can have a significant impact, both physically and psychosocially. Major comorbidities in patients with AR include asthma, rhinosinusitis (RS), otitis media with effusion (OME), and sleep disturbance. The symptoms of AR can cause not only physical problems to the nose and lower airway, but also psychosocial problems including those in learning and cognitive processes and in missing work or school (Fig. 1). Thus, it is very important to understand other conditions caused by AR when managing this disorder.