Chicken or the egg: the dilemma of allergic rhinitis versus adenoid hypertrophy

Abstract

Background: There is no consensus as to whether allergic rhinitis (AR) is a cause of adenoid hypertrophy (AH). This study evaluated the role of allergy in AH, and it explored the role of nasal endoscopy and the history of diagnosing AR in children empirically. Materials and methods: This study enrolled 155 children consecutively in İzmir Behcet Uz Children`s Hospital between January and September 2013. Results: Of the patients, 101 (65.2%) had a positive skin prick test. Multiple allergen sensitivity was identified in 76 (75.2%) of these patients. The history items of itching and sneezing had predictive value for empirically diagnosing AR in children. Of the nasal examination findings, only the nasal secretion characteristics had significant predictive value. AH and AR had a significant negative correlation. Conclusion: In this study, AH and AR were inversely related. The characteristics of the nasal secretions, itching, sneezing, were predictors of AR in children.