Allergic Rhinitis Can Drag Test Scores Down

For such a common condition, it’s surprising that few data exist on the effect of allergic rhinitis on academic performance in children. A few studies have shown that allergic rhinitis impairs learning, but none have examined its effect on actual test performance. In a case-control study, researchers in the U.K. compared math, English, and science exam scores among 1834 students who took practice exams in the winter and national tests in the summer, when symptoms of allergic rhinitis peaked.

Students who dropped at least one grade in one or more of the three exams between winter and summer were defined as cases; those who either maintained or improved their grades were defined as controls. Compared with controls, cases were significantly mor…