title: Adenoidal hypertrophy and allergic rhinitis: is there an inverse relationship?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nasal obstruction is a very common symptom in children. The main causes are allergic rhinitis (AR) and adenoidal hypertrophy (AH); the possible correlation between AR and AH has been investigated by few studies, mainly conducted using radiographic craniometry.  This study aimed at investigating this topic by nasal endoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 205 children (134 boys; mean age, 6.7 years age range, 4-12 years) studied. Clinical visit, nasal endoscopy, and skin-prick test were performed in all patients. Anterior nasal obstruction  was graded using the Friedmann's classification. Adenoid size was graded using the Parikh's classification. Perception of symptoms by children was also assessed using the visual analog scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-two children (44.9%) had complete nasal obstruction and 28 children  (13.7%) had choanae invasion. There was a negative significant correlation (r = -0.41; p < 0.001) between nose obstruction severity and volume of adenoids. Decreased probability of greater adenoid volume was associated with increased severity of nose obstruction (odds ratio [OR] =  0.13) and in patients with allergy compared with nonallergic patients (OR = 0.31).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This real-life study shows that large adenoids may be associated with absence of allergy, whereas large turbinates may be associated with small adenoids.
authors: Ear, Nose, and Throat Unit, Villa Montallegro Private Clinic, Genoa, Italy.
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: D000234:Adenoids / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000473:pathology*; D010465:Perception; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology