Nasal Mucociliary Clearance in Allergic Rhinitis in Children

Abstract

AbstractAllergic rhinitis in children is not an uncommon disease in India. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of allergic rhinitis on nasal mucociliary clearance. The nasal mucociliary clearance time (NMC) was studied using Andersen's saccharin method in fifty controls and fifty age and sex matched patients of allergic rhinitis. The nasal mucociliary clearance time in healthy controls was found to be 5.11 ± 1.51 minutes. A significant impairment (p < 0.01) in nasal mucociliary clearance time of 12.46 ± 3.74 minutes was observed in children suffering with allergic rhinitis, signifying that allergic rhinitis may predispose to sinusitis and pulmonary diseases.