Differential characteristics of pediatric sinusitis in patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery: children vs. adolescents

Abstract

ObjectivesWe hypothesised that paediatric chronic sinusitis patients might have various clinical characteristics, depending on age, compared symptoms, physical findings and clinical features in younger children and older adolescent patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery. DesignA retrospective review of medical records. SettingA total of 195 paediatric patients who underwent Endoscopic sinus surgery were enrolled and medical records were reviewed. ParticipantsThe subjects were divided into children (age < 12 years, n = 70, mean age = 9.6 years) and adolescents (age 12 years, n = 125, mean age = 14.7 years). Main outcome measuresSubjective symptoms, physical findings, CT images and clinical features were compared in children and adolescent groups. ResultsCough and nasal obstruction were more common in adolescents, and sleep disturbance was more common in children. Nasal mucosal injection was more common in adolescents, whereas tonsils were larger in children. Septal deviation was a more common finding in adolescents, and total CT score and serum total IgE levels were higher in children. There was no statistical difference in rate of recurrence after endoscopic sinus surgery. ConclusionThe clinical features of paediatric chronic sinusitis differed between the younger and older groups. Symptomatic, anatomical and clinical differences between these two groups suggest that further study of paediatric chronic sinusitis should stratify patients by age to better understand the effects of treatment on each age group.