[Treatments for chronic sinusitis in children--a study by questionnaire from 433 hospitals in Japan]

Information concerning the medical and surgical treatment of pediatric patients with chronic sinusitis was obtained through questionnaires from 433 hospitals in Japan. The hospitals were authorized as an inservice otorhinolaryngological training institute by the Oto-Rhino Laryngological Society of Japan. The questionnaires were sent to the hospitals in February, 1995, and answers were obtained from 311 hospitals within one month, a 73.5% response rate. Conservative therapies were the most common treatment for pediatric sinusitis. The removal of hypersecreted nasal mucus by aspiration in combination with alphaadrenergic decongestants was performed in 89.1% of the hospitals. Treatment by oral administration of drugs was adapted in 88.1%. The administration of antibiotics and/or steroids by aerosol was performed in 86.2%. The antral lavage was performed in only 17.7%. In the medical treatment, macrolide antibiotics and proteolytics enzymes were most frequently administered. Surgical therapy was performed if the patient was indicated for surgery in 241 hospitals (77.5%). Nasal polyps were removed surgically in 202 hospitals. The intranasal ethmoidectomy was performed in 98 hospitals. Five years of age was the youngest limit of the surgical indication. In most hospitals, the population of surgically treated patients was less than 5% of all pediatric patients with chronic sinusitis. Adenoidectomy was adapted for the improvement of chronic sinusitis in 33.8% of the hospitals.