Abstract
Introduction: Allergic rhinitis has a high prevalence with significant morbidity and loss of patients' productivity. Its cardinal symptoms include nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and itching. Aim: Study the relationship between parity, preconception atopy, maternal age and pregnancy rhinitis in Al-Ahsa, SA. Materials and methods: This study was across-sectional study conducted among women who experienced pregnancy rhinitis in Al Ahsa, SA from July 2021 to October 2021. Participants completed a self-directed questionnaire that include; socio-demographic characteristics, characteristics of women before and during pregnancy and Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation. All women who are pregnant or have been pregnant were included in this study. Data analyzed using SPSS version 26 (SPSS, Armonk, NY:IBM Corp.). Results: 316 women were able to recruit with 34.2% being 19 - 25 years. The prevalence of pregnancy rhinitis was 39%. 38.6%, 14.2%, 20.6% and 3.8% compromising of mild, moderate and severe. The most common symptom of pregnancy rhinitis was sneezing (40.2%). Risk factors were atopy/skin allergy or eczema, being 18 - 25 years at first pregnancy, family history of allergic rhinitis (AR) and nasal problems during pregnancy. Conclusion: More than one-thid of this study population had expireinced pregnancy rhinitis. Among all of the assessed factors we found that pregnancy rhinitis is infuluced by preconception atopy, maternal age at first pregnancy, family history, and nasal symptoms during pregnancy. However, parity was not.