PEDIATRIC SINUSITIS - A LITERATURE-REVIEW WITH EMPHASIS ON THE ROLE OF ALLERGY

Evaluation and treatment of pediatric sinusitis is a challenging area that has been subject to many different opinions and options during th e past decade, Sinusitis is among the most commonly encountered diseas es of childhood and has been the major area of interest for many otola ryngologists, allergists, and pediatricians. We have searched the medi cal literature to review the many aspects of the problem and the opini ons of various authors. The increasing importance of allergic diseases and their relationship to sinus disease have been evaluated through a review of relevant literature. The poorly understood variations of th e presentation of sinusitis and its signs and symptoms in the pediatri c age group have been reviewed. Recommendations concerning the method, duration, and timing of the therapeutic intervention or interventions are summarized. The natural course of pediatric sinusitis in associat ion with related respiratory tract diseases is discussed. Allergies an d viral upper respiratory infections are among the most common predisp osing factors of sinus disease. Every child with sinusitis is a candid ate for an allergy evaluation.