Immunotherapy Duration and Risk of Psychosocial Emotion and Risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Prevalence and Relation in Allergic Rhinitis Children

Abstract

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is the most common chronic disease in children. Allergic symptoms
affect daily activities and increase risk of psychosocial emotion and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD). Immunotherapy has been proven in improving AR symptoms
Objective: To identify prevalence of the risk of psychosocial emotion disorder and ADHD and its relation
with immunotherapy duration in AR children.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was held in AR children aged 4-18 years at Allergy Immunology Outpatient
Clinic, Dr. Soetomo Hospital, during March 2017. Immunotherapy duration categorized into 0-6 months, 6
months-1 year, 1-2 years, 2-3 years. Psychosocial emotion disorder risk assessed using Pediatric Symptoms
Checklist 17 (PSC-17), scored into four different subscales: Internalizing, Externalizing, Attention, and
Total Score. ADHD risk was assessed using Abbreviated Conner’s Rating Scale (ACRS). Statistical analysis
using One-Way ANOVA and Eta test, with a value of p< 0.05 considered as significant.
Results: Total of 37 children included. Based on immunotherapy duration 0-6 months, 6 months-1 year, 1-2
years, and 2-3 years, prevalence risk of ADHD are 20.6%, 15.4%, 12.5%, and 12.5%, and prevalence of
psychosocial emotion disorder risk are only in immunotherapy duration 6 months-1 year 12.5%. There were
no correlation between immunotherapy duration with risk of psychosocial emotion disorder (p = 0.945) and
significantly correlated to ADHD (p = 0.049, r = 0.326).
Conclusion: Prevalence risk of ADHD decrease as the immunotherapy duration increase and immunotherapy
duration weakly correlated with risk of ADHD.