title: Role of allergy in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this prospective study is to investigate the correlation between allergen sensitivity and radiographic evaluation of adenoidal obstruction and tonsil size.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 82 children with upper airway obstructive symptoms were evaluated for their tonsil size. All patients underwent digital lateral soft tissue radiographs. Assessment of nasopharyngeal obstruction in radiographs was done according to the Cohen and Konak method. Skin prick tests with multitest applicator including 14 allergens were carried out to investigate their allergic background.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All children reacted positive to at least one of the 14 allergens tested. We found a statistically significant correlation between tonsil size and skin prick tests (P < 0.01). However, there was no statistically significant correlation between the adenoid size and skin prick test results (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the degree of nasopharyngeal obstruction caused by adenoid hypertrophy does not increase with the degree of positivity to specific allergens in skin prick tests, allergic sensitivity may play an important role in children with tonsillar hypertrophy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Haydarpaşa Numune Educational and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. cigdemtepe@mynet.com
authors.forename: Ciğdem Tepe
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.forename: Sema Zer
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Toros
authors.forename: Hülya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Noşeri
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Külekçi
authors.forename: Ciğdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kalayck
authors.forename: Cağatay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oysu
authors.forename: Gamze
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Klçoğlu
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Egeli
mesh_terms: D000234:Adenoids / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology; D000293:Adolescent; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012882:Skin Tests