Functional alterations of the stomatognathic system in patients with allergic rhinitis: case-control study.
Mouth breathing can cause structural and functional alterations to the stomatognathic system.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this investigation was to study breathing, chewing, swallowing and speaking alterations present in patients with allergic rhinitis and associate it to rhinitis symptom intensity.


METHODS
170 patients between the ages of 6 and 55 years were prospectively evaluated in this study, all of them underwent both otorhinolaryngological and speech evaluation. Data on breathing, chewing, swallowing and speaking was gathered, as well as data from the medical evaluation. The data was compared and statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
The difference in signs and symptoms' score between GR and GC was significant. We noticed a significant difference between GR and GC in breathing, chewing and swallowing. We observed a significant association between the score of nasal obstruction and the intensity of breathing and chewing alterations.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with allergic rhinitis have functional alterations in their stomatognathic system and an increase in nasal obstruction scores can be considered as a indication of such alterations.
Lemos
Catiane Maçaira de
CM
Divisão da Clínica Otorrinolaringológica, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, USP.
Wilhelmsen
Niels Sales Willo
NS
Mion
Olavo de Godoy
Ode G
Mello Júnior
João Ferreira de
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D012119:Respiration; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013284:Stomatognathic System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult