An evaluation of radium treatment to the nasopharynx in asthmatic children

Abstract

1. 1. Radium treatment of the nasopharynx in our experience cannot be considered to be a panacea for any type of asthma, but as revealed in this study must be considered as an auxiliary to other forms of treatment. 2. 2. Improvement in asthmatic symptoms may be expected for about 17 weeks following radium treatment to the nasopharynx in most cases. 3. 3. Patients having a high sedimentation rate will in general obtain better results from radium therapy to the nasopharynx than those with normal sedimentation rates. 4. 4. Patients having the least amount of adenoid tissue in the nasopharynx obtain more relief from asthma following radium therapy than those having a greater amount of adenoid tissue. 5. 5. Patients with normal sinuses obtain better relief from asthma after radium therapy than patients with hyperplastic sinusitis. 6. 6. Therefore, if radium treatment be considered for therapy of the asthmatic child, it would appear that better results may be anticipated in a case with an increased sedimentation rate, normal sinuses, and little or no adenoid tissue in the nasopharynx.