Mometasone Furoate Nasal Spray in Italian Children

The cytological technique involves the following moments: sampling, processing, which includes fixation, staining and microscopic observation. Cytological sampling consists in the collection of superficial cells of the nasal mucosa with the help of a sterile swab or a small curette (scraping) in disposable plastic material (Rhino-probe).

The validated Pediatric Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (PRQLQ) consists of 23 questions in 5 domains (nasal symptoms, ocular symptoms, practical issues, limitation of activities, other symptoms) that are answered on a 7-point scale (0-6), where 0 represents the absence of problems and 6 the greatest symptom distress. Children will complete the questionnaire together with a parent at baseline and during the study. A Total Score was calculated as the mean of the 5 domains.

Total symptom score was the sum of 3 domains: i) nasal symptoms (TNSS) included itching, sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion; ii) ocular symptoms (TOSS): itching, hyperemia of the conjunctiva, tearing; and iii) throat symptoms (TTSS): itching, coughing. With the help of their parents, patients scored symptoms severity on a 4-point scale: 0 = absent or irrelevant, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe. Total symptom score was assessed at 12 hours (TTS 12h) and two weeks (TTS 2W) before the visits. TSS represents the doctor's point of view of symptom severity

A visual analogic scale (VAS) measured the parental perception of symptom severity (0=no symptom; 10=very severe symptoms).