Nasal airway resistance in children

Using anterior rhinomanometry, nasal resistance was measured in 397 Japanese children and students, aged 5 to 17 years. Thereafter the relationship between nasal resistance and age, sex, height and weight was studied. The results are as follows: 1. The nasal resistance of children and students significantly decreases with aging and it reaches almost the same as that of an adult at about 16 years of age. This decrease was confirmed statistically. However, the difference of sex was not significant in any age group. 2. There is no significant correlation among total nasal resistance, height and weight. So, it would be concluded that the growth of the frame-work of the nasal cavity does not follow the same course as that of the height or the weight. 3. Between ages 13 and 14, it seems that the nasal resistance increases slightly. The change in nasal resistance during this period may be attributed to unbalance of the growth between the nasal turbinates and the frame-work of the nasal cavity.