Evaluation of olfactory function in children with allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis.
OBJECTIVE
Allergic rhinitis (AR) occurs when the symptoms of rhinitis arise as a result of allergen-induced nasal mucosal inflammation. In the presence of rhinitis symptoms without infection or an allergic reaction in the nose, non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) is considered. Adults with these diseases have increased frequency of olfactory dysfunction. The aim of the present study is to assess olfactory function in children with AR and NAR.


METHODS
A total of 77 children (aged six to 18 years) with AR and NAR were included in the study. The control group consisted of 45 healthy children. Sniffin' Sticks test was applied to both groups. The association between odor scores and demographic, clinical, and laboratory results was investigated.


RESULTS
Forty two patients had allergic rhinitis. No significant difference was observed between patients with rhinitis and healthy controls with respect to odor scores. No association was observed between odor scores and the severity of rhinitis and the laboratory results of the patient groups. Odor identification and total odor scores of the patients with rhinitis lasting for longer than three years were significantly lower than those in the patient group with rhinitis lasting for one to three years. In the AR and control groups, the odor scores were found to increase with age.


CONCLUSIONS
When compared with healthy children, children with allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis were not found to have reduced olfactory function. The duration of rhinitis may be associated with the olfactory dysfunction in children with rhinitis.
Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. Electronic address: seyhankutlug@hotmail.com.
Seyhan
S
Kutlug
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
Emre
E
Gunbey
Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
Ayhan
A
Sogut
Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
Mehmet Halil
MH
Celiksoy
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
Semsettin
S
Kardas
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
Ugur
U
Yildirim
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
Rifat
R
Karli
Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
Naci
N
Murat
Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
Recep
R
Sancak
D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000503:physiopathology; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000485:Allergens
Allergic rhinitis; Children; Nonallergic rhinitis; Olfactory dysfunction; Olfactory function; Sniffin' sticks