[Recurrent upper respiratory tract infections in children and allergy. A cross-sectional study of 100 cases].
BACKGROUND
Upper respiratory tract (URT) infections are common in children. The knowledge of their risk factors allows in some cases better management. The aim of our study is to evaluate the role of allergy in this pathology.


METHODS
Through a cross-sectional study about 100 children having recurrent URT infections, we evaluated the prevalence of allergy in order to find a relation between the two pathologies in general, and between allergy and each recurrent pathology. The results were compared with those of a reference group involving 164 children.


RESULTS
Our study confirms a statistically significant association between allergy and recurrent URT infections (p=0.01), also between allergy and rhinopharyngitis (p=0.02), rhinosinusitis (p=0.001) and acute otitis media (p=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Allergy represents a risk factor for recurrent URT infections, particularly for rhinopharyngitis, rhinosinusitis and acute otitis media. Adequate management of allergy may consequently be beneficial for the treatment and the prevention of these infections.
Mbarek
Chiraz
C
Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, Hôpital Habib Thameur, Tunis, Tunisie.
Akrout
Amel
A
Khamassi
Khaled
K
Ben Gamra
Olfa
O
Hariga
Ines
I
Ben Amor
Mohamed
M
Zribi
Sarra
S
El Khedim
Abdelkader
A
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology*