Measurement of nasal patency by acoustic rhinometry in Japanese school children.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was planned in order to evaluate: (1) the reference value of Japanese school children at a certain grade, (2) the relationship between subjective sensation of nasal obstruction and acoustic rhinometry, and (3) relationship of acoustic rhinometry with gender and body status.


METHODS
Seventy-five school children in the second grade, which include 39 girls (52%) and 36 boys (48%), ranging in age from 7 to 8 were studied in July 2006.


RESULTS
The normal mean values of the minimal cross-sectional area and nasal volume were 0.389 and 2.63cm(3) in this group, respectively. In those with nasal obstruction sensation, the cross-sectional areas at the third and the fourth notches were significantly smaller than those without nasal obstruction sensation (p<0.05). Nasal volume weakly correlated to body weight and body mass index. The distance from the nostril to the i-notch was significantly higher in the girls than in the boys (p<0.01). The area at the i-notch was significantly higher in the boys than in the girls. Height, weight, body mass were significantly higher in the boys than in the girls (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Acoustic rhinometry is a useful method for evaluation of nasal patency in school children.
Miyamoto
Yukiko
Y
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
Takeuchi
Kazuhiko
K
Majima
Yuichi
Y
D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D044466:Asian People; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic; D012677:Sensation; D012727:Sex Characteristics