Comparison of nasal airway obstruction with sonoelastography and nose obstruction symptom evaluation scores in children with allergic rhinitis

OBJECTIVE: Nasal airway obstruction caused by inferior turbinate hypertrophy is the most troublesome symptom for patients with allergic rhinitis. The aim of this study was to determine any correlation between different nasal obstruction measurements in children with allergic rhinitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nasal airway obstruction was assessed with Sonoelastography, Turkish version of the Nose Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scale, Rhinoconjunctivitis Total Symptom Score and visual analog scale methods in children with allergic rhinitis and the results were compared with a healthy control group. RESULTS: Evaluation was made of a total of 68 patients (40 boys and 28 girls [male: female ratio, 1.42]) with a mean age of 13.35±3.35 (range, 7–18) years. The Rhinoconjunctivitis Total Symptom Score, visual analog scale, and Turkish version of the Nose Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scale scores were significantly higher in the AR group than in the control group (p=0.001, p=0.001, p=0.001, respectively). The sonoelastography scores were significantly higher in the AR group than in the control group (p=0.001). Although a positive significant correlation was determined between Rhinoconjunctivitis Total Symptom Score, visual analog scale, and Turkish version of the Nose Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scale scores in terms of AR severity, no relationship was found with the sonoelastography scores (p=0.022, p=0.009, p=0.001, and p=0.0751, respectively). CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of the Nose Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scale and sonoelastography can be used to evaluate nasal obstruction due to inferior turbinate hypertrophy in children with allergic rhinitis.