The ozena problem. Clinical analysis of atrophic rhinitis in 100 cases

One hundred cases of ozena were analysed. The majority of cases were youths (86%). 50% of 33 patients had abnormal menstruation. Löwenberg's bacillus were found in most cases. The middle concha was a frequent side of this affection in our series, 25 cases of accessory sinusitis were found by roentgenographic examination of 35 cases of atrophic rhinitis. 24 cases underwent a serum cholesterol test. This revealed hypocholesterolemia in cases (50%) with an average value of 73.6 mg/100 ml. A large dose of vitamin (12500-150000 U daily or injected vitamin A 50000 U i.m. every other day or water-soluble vitamin A 300000 U twice a week) was generally favourable in most cases. Streptomycin had a beneficial result in sensitive cases. Complete cure of the disease was expected from the combined treatment with vitamin A and streptomycin. No recurrence was found in the majority of cases over a 2-year period of follow-up studies.