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Adenoids in school-aged children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Jorma J. Haapaniemi
Jorma J. Haapaniemi*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University Central Hospital of Turku. Turku, Finland
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Jorma Happaniemi Ilveksenkatu 10, FIN-20760 Piispanristi, Finland. Fax: 356-21-81 32-42
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Abstract

A total of 687 school children, aged six to 15 years, were examined clinically, radiologically and audiometrically. Lateral radiological examination of paranasal sinuses was carried out in 663 (96.5 per cent) children for evaluation of the size of adenoids. The size of the soft tissue shadow (adenoids) was assessed as normal or large. It was large in 133 (25 per cent) children, three times more frequently in seven-year-old than in 14-year-old children. The occurrence of adenoidal symptoms (blocked nose, mouth breathing, snoring, snuffling or rhinitis) varied from 14.3 to 30.1 per cent in children with large adenoids compared to 7 to 9.8 per cent in children with normal adenoids. Logistic regression analysis revealed that only recurrent snoring and the child's age were significantly associated with radiologically large adenoids. The hearing thresholds were 1.1 to 4.2 dB poorer and mean middle ear pressure values were 60 to 70 mmH2O lower in children with large adenoids compared to those with normal size adenoids. Large adenoids have an influence on the hearing level of a child, but probably via the negative middle ear pressure.

Keywords

AdenoidsChildAdolescenceAcoustic impedance testsHearing tests

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 109 , Issue 3 , March 1995 , pp. 196 - 202
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1995

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