Measurement of nasal resistance by rhinomanometry in 892 Japanese elementary school children

Abstract

Objective The normal value of nasal resistance in adults has been reported (0.25 Pa/cm 3/s), but that in children has not. In this study, we measured nasal resistance in Japanese school children by employing rhinomanometry. Methods An otolaryngologist examined 939 Japanese school children with regard to the presence or absence of nasal diseases and tonsil size. Nasal resistance was measured by rhinomanometry employing the active anterior method in 892 children. A questionnaire concerning the condition during sleep, such as the presence or absence of snoring and sleep apnea syndrome, was performed. Results The mean nasal resistance was 0.43 ± 0.50 Pa/cm 3/s: 0.46 ± 0.65 and 0.39 ± 0.22 Pa/cm 3/s in boys and girls, respectively. Of the 892 children, Grade 3 and 4 tonsil hypertrophy was noted in 84 (9%), but the presence of tonsil hypertrophy did not influence nasal resistance. Nasal diseases were noted in 335 children (38%) and the nasal condition was normal (the normal group) in 557 (62%). Nasal resistance was 0.56 ± 0.75 Pa/cm 3/s in the nasal disease group and 0.36 ± 0.21 Pa/cm 3/s in the normal group, showing that the resistance was significantly higher in the nasal disease group. The resistance tended to decrease as the school grade increased. In the normal group, 290 children (33%) experienced no problem regarding the upper airway, such as snoring and sleep apnea syndrome, based on a questionnaire, and nasal resistance was 0.35 ± 0.17 Pa/cm 3/s. Conclusion This normal nasal resistance value may be adopted for the objective evaluation of nasal obstruction and effects of treatment in pediatric nasal diseases.