Previous ear, nose and throat surgery in children presenting with allergic perennial rhinitis

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Allergy Immunology

Background:

• Allergic perennial rhinitis is a common condition in children.
• Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) operations are frequently performed in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the incidence of ENT operations in children with allergic perennial rhinitis versus those with orthopaedic problems.
• To evaluate the clinical features and serum immunoglobulin levels in rhinitis patients who underwent ENT operations compared to non-operated patients.
• To assess the efficacy of medical therapy versus surgical intervention for symptom improvement in perennial rhinitis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patient records.
• Comparison of demographic and clinical data between groups.
• Assessment of serum IgA and IgE levels.
• Evaluation of symptom improvement post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Children with allergic perennial rhinitis had a four-fold higher likelihood of undergoing an ENT operation compared to children with orthopaedic issues.
• Patients who had ENT operations showed significantly lower serum IgA and IgE levels.
• No significant differences in clinical atopy or allergy skin-test responses were observed between operated and non-operated rhinitis patients.
• Forty percent of perennial rhinitis patients experienced symptom improvement after ENT operations, while 90% improved with medical therapy.

Conclusions:

• Allergy investigations and medical management should be prioritized before considering surgical options for perennial rhinitis.
• Medical therapy demonstrates superior efficacy in improving symptoms compared to ENT operations for perennial rhinitis.
• Lower serum IgA and IgE levels in operated patients warrant further investigation.