My child only has nasal allergy symptoms. Could this still affect their asthma risk?

Yes, even when the only visible problem is a blocked or runny nose, the same allergic process is often active throughout the airway, not just in the nose. The nose and lungs share a continuous lining, so persistent nasal inflammation can allow allergen-laden mucus to drain into the lower airway and contribute to bronchial inflammation over time. This is part of why around 40 percent of children with allergic rhinitis go on to develop asthma if the nasal allergy is left unmanaged. Treating allergic rhinitis properly, rather than dismissing it as a minor nuisance, is one of the more effective steps a parent can take to reduce that risk. I assess both the nose and the chest together at every allergy consultation for exactly this reason, even when a child's only complaint at first seems to be sneezing or a stuffy nose.