Relative Etiological Importance of Adenoid Hypertrophy Versus Sinusitis in Children with Persistent Rhinorrhoea

Persistent rhinorrhoea is a common, yet often neglected, problem among Indian children. This study was designed to evaluate the relative etiological importance of adenoid hypertrophy versus sinusitis in children with persistent rhinorrhea. Additionally, the association between S. pneumoniae colonization and adenoid hypertrophy was studied. Children aged 1–14 years with persistent rhinorrhea underwent clinical evaluation, rigid nasal endoscopy and xrays of the nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses to ascertain the presence of adenoid hypertrophy and sinusitis using standard criteria. Nasopharyngeal swabbing to ascertain the presence of nasopharyngeal colonization with S. pneumoniae was also performed. Adenoid hypertrophy was more consistently associated with persistent rhinorrhea than sinusitis (p < 0.0001). Coincident adenoid hypertrophy and sinusitis occurred in 57 %. S. pneumoniae was cultured in only 29 % of children. Up to 47 % of patients had features of nasal allergy. There was no association between S. pneumoniae colonization and adenoid hypertrophy (p = 0.1). Adenoid hypertrophy is an important cause of persistent rhinorrhea in children. Measures to evaluate for and treat adenoid hypertrophy should be instituted early to alleviate the problem of persistent rhinorrhoea in children. S. pneumoniae colonization of the nasopharynx is not a major etiological factor for persistent rhinorrhoea in these children. Nasal allergy may be a cause of adenoid hypertrophy in roughly half the children.