The Prevalence of Sinusitis in Young Asthmatic Patients(2-16y) Referred to Rasoul-e-Akram Hospital During 1993-2003

The present descriptive retrospective study was conducted to determine the prevalence of sinusitis and its relationship with bronchial asthma among asthmatic patients between 2 to 16 years of age. Sinusitis was observed in 52 out of 71 patients (73.2%) and the maxillary sinus was the most common involved sinus. The most common finding in Waters X-ray was mucosal wall thickening greater than 6mm. 38.5% of patients with sinusitis had no symptoms or signs of bacterial sinusitis. The most common symptom in asthmatic patients with bacterial sinusitis was constant purulent nasal discharge (40.7%). No statistical difference was found between asthmatic patients with or without sinusitis with regard to severity of asthma and the number of hospital admissions (P>0.05). It is suggested that antibiotic therapy for sinusitis should be administered only to asthmatic patients who do not respond to usual treatment for asthma and have obvious signs of bacterial sinusitis, since the abnormal finding in the Waters X-ray in asthmatic patients may be due to chronic hyperplastic eosinophilic sinusitis (CHS).