Pediatric sinusitis:symptom profiles with associated atopic conditions

Sinusitis is a very common disease in childhood. Clinical manifestations in childhood sinusitis are different than in adult. Information in childhood sinusitis in Thailand is limited. We performed a prospective descriptive study to determine clinical characteristics of childhood sinusitis in Thailand

One hundred pediatric patients with clinical diagnosis of sinusitis attending pediatric allergy clinic, pediatric outpatient clinic, and pediatric ENT clinic were recruited. Clinical diagnosis was defined by presence of symptoms indicating upper respiratory infections with exudates at middle meatus by anterior rhinoscopy. Thorough history taking and physical examinations were conducted with findings recording into sinusitis questionnaire. Sinus radiographs were taken in 77 patients and were read blindly a single radiologist who was unaware of clinical conditions of patients. Allergy skin prick tests were performed with a panel of common aeroallergens in Thailand.

Age range of the 100 patients were between 1.7 to 12.4 years with a mean (+/- SD) of 6 +/- 2.72 years. History of atopic disease among patients and their families was positive in 49% and 47% respectively. Four most common clinical manifestations were rhinorrhea (95%), nocturnal and productive cough (91%), nasal congestion (74%) and posterior nasal dripping (66%). The three most common signs were obstruction of middle meatus (100%), swelling of turbinates (92%) and granular pharynx (48%). All paranasal sinuses X-rays were abnormal with maxillary sinus being the most commonly involved sinus (99%) followed by ethmoid sinus (91%). The majority of patients had involvement of more than one sinus. Skin prick tests were positive in 53.6%. The two most common sensitizing allergens were dust mites (57.7) and cockroaches (18.6%).

The presence of symptoms of rhinorrhea, cough, nasal congestion and posterior nasal drip should alert physicians for diagnosis of sinusitis in pediatric patients. Maxillary and ethmoid sinus were the most common sinuses involved. Atopic predisposition is present in up to 53.6% in this population.