[Efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy in children with allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy with dermatophagoides farina drops on children with allergic rhinitis.

METHOD: This was retrospective study analyzing the efficacy of dermatophaguides farinae drops SLIT in 110 patients (aged 4-14 years old) with house dust mites induced allergic rhinitis (without asthma). All the patients were divided into the SLIT group (n = 60) and drug group (n = 50). Patients in SLIT group received sublingual immunotherapy combined with symptomatic medication, and patients in drug group only received symptomatic medication. We recorded and evaluated the total nasal symptom scores (TNSS), total medication scores (TMS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) of the 2 groups at three time points, before the treatment, and the treatment for 1-year and 2-year.

RESULT: After 1-year and 2-year treatment, compared with drug group, TMS, TNSS and VAS in SLIT group decreased significantly (P < 0.01). When compared with baseline, we got the similar result as compared with drug group. Besides, the TMS of drug group increased significantly after treatment (P < 0.01). And no significant difference was observed in TNSS and VAS. In addition, there was significant difference in the Proportion of patients withdrawing symptomatic medication in SLIT group and drug group (68.33%,16.00%, respectively; P < 0.01). There were 4 local adverse reactions occurred during the treatment and no serious adverse events occurred.

CONCLUSION: Sublingual immunotherapy with Dermatophagoides farinae drops showed significant clinical efficacy in children with allergic rhinitis comparing with pharmacotherapy.