title: Nasal endoscopy in children with suspected allergic rhinitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ear, nose, and throat assessment may be frequently requested for children with allergic rhinitis (AR). Nasal endoscopy allows a thorough evaluation of the nose. The aim of the study was to investigate whether there are endoscopic signs predictive for AR diagnosis in a cohort of children with suspected AR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort of observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 176 children (99 males; mean age, 7.5 years) studied. Clinical visit, nasal endoscopy, and skin prick test were performed in all patients. Nasal endoscopic signs were pale turbinates, middle turbinate contact, and inferior turbinate contact. The AR diagnosis was made when nasal symptom history was concordant with sensitization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AR was diagnosed in 141 children. Inferior and middle turbinate contact were reliable predictive factors for AR (odds ratio 5.38 and 3.42, respectively), whereas pale turbinates did not predict it.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that nasal endoscopy may reveal signs predictive for AR diagnosis in children.
authors: ENT Unit, Villa Montallegro Private Clinic, Genoa.
authors: Franco
authors: F
authors: Ameli
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Brocchetti
authors: Maria Angela
authors: MA
authors: Tosca
authors: Alessio
authors: A
authors: Signori
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Ciprandi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods; D014420:Turbinates / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology