NEONATAL RHINITIS

Neonatal rhinitis as a distinct disease entity has not been well-studi ed. The recognition and treatment of this condition is important since neonates are obligate nasal breathers, and mismanagement of this enti ty can result in poor feeding or even death from respiratory distress. We undertook a retrospective analysis of 20 patients seen at the Chil dren's Hospital of San Diego over the period 1990-1991. Eighteen patie nts developed neonatal rhinitis in the months of August to January and only two between February and July. Clinical presentation and an effe ctive management algorithm are discussed. Early recognition on the bas is of clinical features followed by a two-step therapeutic trial consi sting of conservative therapy and corticosteroid drops are advocated. Based on the above findings we have defined neonatal rhinitis as mucoi d rhinorrhea with nasal mucosal edema in the afebrile newborn that res ults in stertor, poor feeding and respiratory distress which responds promptly to decadron 0.1% drops within a week. We recommend reserving diagnostic procedures for complicated cases that do not respond to the proposed regimen. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.