Age-Related CT-scan Study of the Incidence of Sinusitis in Children

Because standard radiographies are not able to give exact information about the diseased state of the sinuses, 196 children with chronic nasal complaints, aged from 3 to 14 years were examined with computed tomographic scan. The aim of the study was to investigate whether an age-related pattern in the occurrence of rhinosinusitis in children could be found. The patient group was subdivided into six age groups (3 to 4, 5 to 6, 7 to 8, 9 to 10, 11 to 12, and 13 to 14 years). Especially younger children, until the age of 7 to 8 years seem to be prone to inflammatory changes of all their sinuses. In older children, mainly the maxillary sinuses stay frequently involved. Septal deviations occur in 16% of the youngest to 72% in the oldest age group. The occurrence of bullous conchae increases with age too, although less prominently.