What are the symptoms of pediatric rhinitis?

Patient's question:

Patient Age: One week
Description of Symptoms: Clear nasal discharge every day

Doctor's answer:

Childhood Allergic Rhinitis-Asthma Syndrome (Combined Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Syndrome) is a newly proposed medical diagnostic term in recent years. It refers to the simultaneous occurrence of clinical or subclinical upper respiratory tract allergies (allergic rhinitis) and allergic symptoms in the lower respiratory tract (asthma), with both often coexisting. The link between allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma was observed as early as the 1960s. Epidemiological surveys have confirmed that the incidence of asthma among patients with allergic rhinitis is 4-20 times higher than in the general population. The incidence of asthma in the general population is approximately 2-5%, whereas in patients with allergic rhinitis, the incidence can be as high as 20-40%, and some believe that up to 60% of patients with allergic rhinitis may develop asthma or lower respiratory tract symptoms. The anatomical and physiological continuity between the nasal cavity and bronchi determine the relationship between allergic rhinitis and asthma. As a result, scholars have long proposed concepts such as "United Airways," "Allergic Nasobronchitis," and "Total Airway Inflammation Syndrome," suggesting that upper and lower respiratory tract diseases require combined diagnosis and treatment. Some scholars have even proposed the concept of "Atopic Syndrome," advocating for a holistic approach to treatment. Currently, the World Allergy Organization (WAO), as well as the journals Allergy & Clinical Immunology International and International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, have formally proposed the adoption of the diagnostic term "Childhood Allergic Rhinitis-Asthma Syndrome."
Since both allergic rhinitis and asthma are Type I hypersensitivity reactions, they share similarities in etiology, immunology, and pathogenesis. Therefore, their diagnostic methods and treatment approaches have many similarities. By using the new diagnostic term "Childhood Allergic Rhinitis-Asthma Syndrome" for combined diagnosis and treatment of both conditions, the accuracy of diagnosis for both diseases can be improved simultaneously, and the repetition of medication can be reduced. This significantly lowers misdiagnosis rates and enhances clinical efficacy.