title: Olfactory function in healthy children: normative data for odor identification.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Olfactory disorders in children may be encountered frequently in the common ear, nose, and throat (ENT) practice. The need for objective measurements in the diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of olfaction is present. However, for young children most olfactory tests need further normative data to be useful in clinical practice. Therefore, this study aimed to provide normative data in children and to determine possible parameters that influence odor identification test outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 201 healthy children reflecting the Dutch population, the Sniffin' Sticks screening test was performed and possible outcome determinants (age, height, gender, weight, peak nasal inspiratory flow, previous ENT surgery, and parental smoking habits) were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age, gender, and previous ENT surgery seem to influence significantly the outcome of the olfactory test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a general population-based sample of children, normative data of the Sniffin' Sticks screenings test are supplied as well as possible determinants of outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. e.vanspronsen@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Spronsen
authors.forename: Fenna A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Ebbens
authors.forename: Wytske J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Fokkens
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*