Pediatric Epistaxis and Its Correlation Between Air Pollutants in Beijing From 2014 to 2017

Abstract

Background: Epistaxis is a common symptom in children. The effect of air pollution on epistaxis is not yet clear. Objectives: To explore the characteristics of pediatric epistaxis in Beijing and its correlation with air pollutants. Material and Methods: Data were collected from 2014 to 2017 in Otolaryngology Department of Capital Institute of Pediatrics. Children diagnosed with epistaxis with relevant information with the same period of municipal air pollutants’ concentration were compared. Results: The annual visits of epistaxis showed a bimodal trend. The incidence of epistaxis in infants was low, increased with age, reached the peak between the ages of 4 to 5, and then gradually decreased with age. In different age groups, male patients were more than females. From 2014 to 2017 in Beijing, particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5), particulate matter less than 10 μm in diameter (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) showed a downtrend, lower in summer than in the other 3 seasons. Ozone (O3) was significantly higher in 2016 and 2017, showed an increase trend in summer. The incidence of epistaxis was negatively correlated with PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2 and CO, which was positively correlated with O3 ( P < .05). Conclusions: Pediatric epistaxis in Beijing changes with age and has obvious seasonal variation. There are some correlations between air pollutants and the incidence of epistaxis in children.