Introduction
Atopy in children is a state in which specific IgE antibodies
to common aeroallergens are produced that may be
detected by a skin prick test (SPT) or radio-allergosorbent
test. The role of allergic sensitization is clear in rhinosinusitis,
especially chronic sinusitis,1 rhinoconjunctivitis and
asthma. Rachelefsky et al reported that 54% of children
with respiratory allergy had sinusitis as assessed by sinus
radiography.2 In 1992, Furukawa analyzed this study and
a number of other investigations published only as
abstracts, and estimated a concordance between allergy
and sinusitis ranging from 25% to 70%.3 A study in Thailand
revealed that in 100 children with clinically diagnosed
sinusitis and with abnormal paranasal sinus X-rays (the
maxillary sinus was involved in 99% and the ethmoid sinus in
91% of cases), a positive skin test to common aeroallergens
was found in 53% of patients.4 We previously found that 27
of 66 (40.9%) children with acute sinusitis were atopic.5
Sinusitis is a very common condition in children. The main
symptoms associated with rhinosinusitis in children are
cough (during the day or night, but generally worse at
night), rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, mouth breathing,
hyponasal speech, and snoring. The rhinorrhea can be
purulent but may be clear, minimal, or absent with severe
congestion.6