Effects of Influenza Vaccine in Children with Moderate
to Severe Allergic Rhinitis
Charoen Jaiwong MD*, Nanthana Siripipattanamongkol MD*, Jarungchit Ngamphaiboon MD*
Affiliation :
* Department of Pediatrics, Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital, Chiang Rai, Thailand
Background : Wheezy episodes in moderate to severe allergic rhinitis patients may be associated with influenza infection.
Children with allergic airway diseases are a priority group for influenza vaccinations. To date, our study is the first to
evaluate the outcome of the influenza vaccine in moderate to severe allergic rhinitis children.
Objective : To analyze the effects of inactivated influenza vaccine in children with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis on
influenza-like illness (ILI) and wheezy episode after ILI.
Material and Method: A cross sectional non-randomized patient preference study was performed on 314 children with
moderate to severe allergic rhinitis who attended the Pediatric Allergy clinic between June 2015 and July 2016 in Chiang
Rai Hospital. One hundred sixty two patients were immunized with an influenza vaccine (quadrivalent influenza vaccine).
ILIs and wheezy episodes were compared between the immunized and the un-immunized groups. The present study compared
between the age groups of younger children (younger than 7 years) and older children (7 to 15 years).
Results : The two study groups had similar demographic and clinical characteristics in younger and older children except
with regards to co-morbid asthma, snoring child, positive skin prick test to American cockroach in younger children, and
family incomes, co-morbid asthma, rhino-sinusitis in older children including allergic rhinitis controllers usage and skin
prick testing results. One year after the vaccine was administered, the immunized group had significantly reduced ILIs,
wheezy episodes, and severity of asthmatic events in children with co-morbid mild persistent asthma (ER visits, medical
usages for wheezy episode, hospitalizations, and their duration) in both younger and older children (p<0.05).
Conclusion : Immunization of inactivated influenza vaccine is beneficial in children with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis,
it can reduce ILIs, wheezy episodes, and severity of asthmatic events in children with co-morbid mild persistent asthma.
Keywords : Quadrivalent influenza vaccine, Wheezy episodes, Moderate to severe allergic rhinitis, Children, Thailand
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