[Evaluation of predisposing factors and bacteriologic agents in pediatric rhinosinusitis].

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the predisposing factors and bacteriologic agents of acute rhinosinusitis in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 76 patients (47 girls, 29 boys; mean age 10.2 years; range 4 to 18 years) with acute rhinosinusitis. Following a detailed history, the patients were investigated by otolaryngologic examination including nasal endoscopy, allergy tests, Water's graphy, and aspiration cultures from the middle meatal region. RESULTS: The leading complaints were nasal obstruction (92.1%), rhinorrhea (89.4%), and headache (51.3%). Allergy tests were positive in nine of 23 patients (30.3%) with a history of allergy. Concerning smoking, 39 patients (51.3%) had a secondary, two patients (2.6%) had a primary history. Sixteen patients (21.1%) had septal deviation, and 25 patients (32.9%) had benign adenoid tissue obstructing choanal spaces. Water's graphies showed pathology in 69 patients (93.2%). Cultures were positive in 51 patients (67.1%), with Streptococcus pneumoniae in 23 (41.1%), Haemophilus influenzae in 17 (30.4%), and beta-hemolytic streptococci in eight patients (14.2%). Treatment was comprised of ampicillin-sulbactam in 31 (40.8%), loracarbef in 20 (26.3%), and amoxicillin-clavulanate in 13 (17.1%) patients. After a year follow-up, recurrence was detected in 12 patients (15.8%). No significant effect of the size of adenoid tissue and allergy was found on the success of treatment (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Smoking, choanal obstruction by the adenoid tissue, anatomical variations, and allergy were the most frequent predisposing factors, while S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae were the commonest pathogens.