@article{3098983,
    title = "Subjective and objective nasal obstruction assessment in children with
chronic rhinitis",
    author = "Priftis, KN and Drigopoulos, K and Sakalidou, A and Triga, M and Kallis, and V and Nicolaidou, P",
    journal = "International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology",
    year = "2006",
    volume = "70",
    number = "3",
    pages = "501-505",
    publisher = "Elsevier Ireland Ltd",
    issn = "0165-5876",
    doi = "10.1016/j.ijporl.2005.07.027",
    keywords = "chronic rhinitis; nasal blockage; rhinomanometry; self-assessment;
decongestion test",
    abstract = "Objective: The present study was undertaken, to test the hypothesis that
schoolchildren on long-term treatment for chronic rhinitis under-report
their nasal congestion.
Methods: Ninety-seven children aged 8.3-15.5 years (median 12.7) with
non-purulent perennial rhinitis, for 1.4-8.5 years (median 2.8)
self-graded their nasal blockage as “severe” (group-A),
“moderate” (group-B), “mild” (group-C) or “absent”
(group-D). An additional 48 normal children served as controls
(group-E). Subsequently active anterior rhinomanometry for total nasal
airway resistance (TNAR) measurement and decongestion test (> 20% TNAR
fall) were employed as objective means of nasal congestion.
Results: Mean pre-decongestion TNAR values did not show any significant
difference between the group-A, -B and -C; significant differences were
observed between group-A and -D (p = 0.04) and between all groups as
compared to -E. Positive decongestion test was detected in 57.1%,
53.8%, 48.3%, 32.3% and 10.4% of children in group-A, -B, -C, -D and
-E, respectively (group-A, -B, -C versus -E p < 0.001, group-D versus -E
p = 0.03).
Conclusions: Schoolchildren on long-term treatment for perennial
rhinitis frequently under-report their symptom of nasal stuffiness. (c)
2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved."
}