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Relationships of childhood allergic rhinitis with tonsil and adenoid sizes
Merve Ersoy1, Ozan Tuysuz2, Sahin Ogreden2
1Department of Pediatrics, Health Science University, Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids correlate with more severe childhood allergic rhinitis. This study found that adenoid hypertrophy increases disease persistence and severity, while tonsil hypertrophy worsens nasal symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Allergy
- Immunology
Background:
- Childhood allergic rhinitis is a common condition impacting quality of life.
- Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are frequently observed in children, potentially affecting respiratory and allergic conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between tonsil and adenoid sizes and the clinical presentation of childhood allergic rhinitis.
- To determine if tonsillar and adenoid hypertrophy influence disease severity and symptom burden.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 169 children diagnosed with allergic rhinitis.
- Endoscopic laryngoscopy was used to measure adenoid and tonsil sizes.
- Comparison of allergic rhinitis symptom frequency, disease severity, and nasal symptom scores based on tonsil and adenoid size.
Main Results:
- Adenoid hypertrophy was present in 73.9% of patients, tonsil hypertrophy in 58.7%, and adenotonsillar hypertrophy in 47.9%.
- Adenoid hypertrophy was linked to increased disease persistence (p=0.045) and severity (p=0.013).
- Tonsil hypertrophy (p=0.007) and adenotonsillar hypertrophy (p=0.001) were associated with higher nasal symptom scores.
Conclusions:
- Tonsil and adenoid size are significant factors in childhood allergic rhinitis.
- Hypertrophy of these tissues is associated with increased disease persistence, severity, and nasal symptom burden.
- Findings suggest a role for evaluating tonsil and adenoid size in managing pediatric allergic rhinitis.
Purpose:
To determine the relationships of tonsil and adenoid sizes with childhood allergic rhinitis.
Methods:
The study was designed as cross-sectional. Children with allergic rhinitis were examined via endoscopic laryngoscopy, and their adenoid and tonsil sizes were measured. The frequency of allergic rhinitis symptoms, disease severity, and nasal symptom scores were compared.
Results:
A total of 169 children diagnosed with allergic rhinitis were included in the study. The median age at diagnosis was 8 years (range: 4-16), and 98 children (58.0%) were boys. Adenoid hypertrophy was observed in 125 (73.9%) patients, tonsil hypertrophy in 96 (58.7%) patients, and adenotonsillar hypertrophy in 81 (47.9%) patients. The disease was more persistent and severe in children with adenoid hypertrophy than in those without it (p = 0.045 and 0.013, respectively). Nasal symptom scores were higher in those with tonsil hypertrophy than in those without (p = 0.007). Scores were also higher in patients with adenotonsillar hypertrophy than in those with tonsillar hypertrophy alone and those without adenoid or tonsillar hypertrophy (p = 0.001).
Conclusions:
Tonsil and adenoid sizes are associated with increased persistence, severity, and nasal symptom burden of disease.
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