title: Quantitative sinonasal symptom assessment in an unselected pediatric population with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to establish baseline sinonasal quality of life scores in an unselected pediatric population with cystic fibrosis (CF) and to test the correlation of those scores with various clinical outcome measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 50 consecutive children, ages 2-12 years, seen routinely in a large CF clinic were evaluated by using the Sinus and Nasal Quality of Life Survey (SN-5) tool at the time of their visit. At this time, the parent or guardian of the child was also questioned about recent episodes of sinusitis, antibiotic prescriptions for sinusitis, recent hospitalizations, and days missed from school or recreational activities due to sinonasal symptoms. CF genotype, pulmonary function, recent sinus surgeries, and computed tomography scores were established by thorough chart review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average SN-5 score of this group was lower than published averages in children with baseline, preoperative, or postoperative chronic sinusitis, and demonstrated significant correlations with a visual analog scale, recent episodes of sinusitis, antibiotic prescriptions for sinusitis, and the number of days missed from school or recreational activities due to sinonasal symptoms, with a nonsignificant trend observed with previous sinus surgery. No correlations were seen with CF genotype, pulmonary function, or hospitalization days. Computed tomography results were overwhelmingly abnormal, and Lund-MacKay scores did not correlate with SN-5 scores or clinical outcome measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SN-5 tool provides a quick, safe, and reliable qualitative metric for monitoring sinonasal symptoms in young children with CF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wentzel
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Virella-Lowell
authors.forename: Rodney J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Schlosser
authors.forename: Zachary M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Soler
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed