Chronic paranasal sinusitis is one of the most common disease in the field of otolaryngology, and endoscopic sinus surgery(ESS) is efficient and safe operative method of chronic paranasal sinusitis. We employed socalled symptom score to quantify the common sinusitis related symptoms before and after endoscopic sinus surgery which followed up to 6 months. A prospective study of 50 patients all having undergone ESS from June, 1995 to February, 1996 was performed and we analyzed the surgical results using questionaires which focused on six common sinusitis related symptoms-nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, olfactory disturbance, postnasal drip, headache and sneezing. Postoperative symptom relief was apparent in all six common symptoms(p value<0.001) and the higher sinusitis stage, the more relief of sinusitis related symptoms(p value=0.029). It seems to be helpful to employ a symptom score in predicting and analyzing the surgical results in the treatment of chronic sinusitis.
Headache ; Humans ; Otolaryngology ; Prospective Studies* ; Sinusitis ; Sneezing

Capsaicin, a nonenamide derived from Capsicum plants, has proven to be useful in patients with vasomotor rhintitis. In this study, we estimated the effects of 10-5 M capsaicin spray in patients with hypersensitive rhinitis. The drug was given 3 times per day for 3 days to each patient by means of a spray delivered to the nasal mucosa. Patient's symptom score was recorded by the same physician. We repeated this method after 1 week, 2 week, 4week, 8week, 12week, 16week and recorded their symptom score. As a result, the mean symptom score involving nasal obstruction, sneezing, rhinorrhea and itching was remarkably reduced by capsaicin spray. The present findings suggest that capsacine spray is a good therpheutic method for hypersensitive rhinitis patients.
Capsaicin* ; Capsicum ; Humans ; Nasal Mucosa ; Nasal Obstruction ; Pruritus ; Rhinitis ; Sneezing

Capsaicin, a nonenamide derived from Capsicum plants, has proven to be useful in patients with vasomotor rhintitis. In this study, we estimated the effects of 10-5 M capsaicin spray in patients with hypersensitive rhinitis. The drug was given 3 times per day for 3 days to each patient by means of a spray delivered to the nasal mucosa. Patient's symptom score was recorded by the same physician. We repeated this method after 1 week, 2 week, 4week, 8week, 12week, 16week and recorded their symptom score. As a result, the mean symptom score involving nasal obstruction, sneezing, rhinorrhea and itching was remarkably reduced by capsaicin spray. The present findings suggest that capsacine spray is a good therpheutic method for hypersensitive rhinitis patients.
Capsaicin* ; Capsicum ; Humans ; Nasal Mucosa ; Nasal Obstruction ; Pruritus ; Rhinitis ; Sneezing

Orbital emphysema is an abnormal condition in which air is present within the orbit. It commonly occurs during or immediately after facial, nasal, or orbital trauma; however, in a few cases, the orbital emphysema occurs spontaneously without the presence of recent trauma. Subsequently, air can enter the soft tissue of orbit as a result of nose blowing, coughing or sneezing. Although sequelae are generally self limiting and resolve spontaneously, they are important because of potential complications such as loss of vision due to pressure effect. The following is a case report of a patient who developed unilateral orbital emphysema after nose blowing.
Cough ; Emphysema ; Humans ; Nose ; Orbit ; Sneezing ; Vision, Ocular

PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy of leukotriene receptor antagonist and second generation anti-histamine in children with moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Twenty eight patients who were treated with second generation anti-histamine for 4 weeks (Zyrtec syrup(R), Group A) and 58 patients who were treated with leukotriene receptor antagonist for 4 weeks (Singulair(R), Group B) were enrolled in this study. Control group (n=22) was received only first generation anti-histamine (Hydroxyzine) intermittently. Efficacy were evaluated by nasal scores in nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, nasal itching, sneezing and total nasal symptom score (a sum of patient ratings of nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, nasal itching, sneezing) before treatment and at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: There were no difference in the total IgE and total eosinophil count of 3 groups. There were also no significant difference in the initial symptom scores. For nasal congestion, group A and B showed significant improvement at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment compared with controls (each P=0.006, P=0.000, P=0.023, P=0.001). For sneezing, group A and B showed significant improvement at 2 weeks after treatment compared with controls (each P=0.048, P=0.011) and group B also showed significant improvement at 4 weeks after treatment compared with controls (P=0.041). In total nasal symptom score (TNSS), group A and B showed significant improvement at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment compared with controls (each P=0.014, P=0.005, P=0.008, P=0.005). CONCLUSION: In the moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis, leukotriene receptor antagonist or second generation anti-histamine is effective in nasal congestion and sneezing.
Child ; Eosinophils ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Pruritus ; Receptors, Leukotriene ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Sneezing

OBJECTIVES: Most studies on the indoor air quality of newly built schools have focused only on the number of schools exceeding a standard or on subjective symptoms, such as sneezing, irritated eyes and an irritated nose. However, there has been no report on how poor indoor air quality affects children's academic performance. This study evaluated the effects of indoor air quality on the neurobehavioral performance of elementary school children. METHODS: This study measured the indoor air pollutants and compared children's performance, using a computerized neurobehavioral test, between a newly built and a 12-year-old school. In addition, a questionnaire was administered regarding the indoor air quality related symptoms of children in a newly built and a 12-year-old school. RESULTS: In the newly built school, the formaldehyde levels in the 1st and 4th classes with an open window were 34.6 and 27.3 microgram/m3, respectively. The levels in the 1st and 4th classes with the window closed were 80.2 and 127.1 microgram/m3, respectively. In the 12-year-old school, the formaldehyde levels in 1st and 4th class with open and closed window were 12.6 and 7.5 microgram/m3, and 19.8 and 25.2 microgram/m3, respectively. With respect to total volatile organic compounds, the levels in the 1st and 4th classes with the window open in the newly built school were 87.2 and 428.2 microgram/m3, respectively. In the 1st and 4th classes with the window closed, the total volatile organic compounds were 1,283.5 and 1,715.4 microgram/m3, respectively. In the 12-year-old school, the total volatile organic compounds were 240.9 and 150.8 microgram/m3, and 371.9 and 448.0 microgram/m3 in the 1st and 4th classes, respectively. In the case of a newly built school, the performance of the students in the neurobehavioral test in the 4th class with the window closed was 8.3% lower than for those in the 1st class with the window closed, but was only 5.9% lower when the windows were open. There was a statistical significant difference in the total numbers of symptoms between the two schools. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a proper evaluation of the indoor air quality within schools is required into both the level of contamination and the health effects of these contaminants toward children.
Air Pollutants ; Air Pollution, Indoor* ; Child* ; Formaldehyde ; Humans ; Nose ; Questionnaires ; Sneezing ; Volatile Organic Compounds

The principal objective of this study was to evaluate elementary students' awareness of the importance of hand washing, as well as their hand-washing behavior. The data was collected by self-reported questionnaire from 697 students in elementary schools with serving food in a classroom in Busan. Their hand-washing frequency was high, at '3~4 times per day (37.0%)'. 51.0% of the respondents did not wash their hands that often because they were 'not accustomed' to washing their hands, and 35.9% of respondents regarded washing their hands as 'annoying'. The most frequently reported hand washing agent was 'soap and water (71.4%)'. Approximately 95~98% of the respondents always washed their hands after using the bathroom, 87.9% of them washed their hands before eating food, and 86.7% of them washed their hands upon returning home. However, 27.3%, 34.1% and 65.9% of the respondents did not wash their hands after handling money, after eating, and after coughing or sneezing, respectively. Significant factors related to increased hand-washing frequency were gender (p<0.001) and the period of attendance at kindergarten (p<0.05). The mean scores of importance and performance of hand washing were significantly higher for girls than for boys. The group with higher rate (over 4.5/5.0) for the importance of sanitary hand-washing behavior showed significantly higher scores in hand-washing behavior before serving food and before eating than those of the lower rated group (below 4.0/5.0). This study shows that sanitation education is required not only for food handlers but also for students in school foodservices.
Cough ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Eating ; Hand ; Hand Disinfection ; Handling (Psychology) ; Humans ; Sanitation ; Sneezing

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Allergic rhinitis is a common condition that has been treated using various methods. Nevertheless, it remains an intractable condition in some cases. We evaluated the long-term efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy for drug-resistant allergic rhinitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients with allergic rhinitis were enrolled in this prospective interventional study. Their subjective symptoms and objective findings were assessed using a visual analogue scale and acoustic rhinometry before and after RFA therapy. Postoperative follow-up was carried out at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: Nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea were improved significantly (p<0.001 and p=0.015, respectively), and these effects continued for 12 months after RFA therapy. However, the effects on nasal itching and sneezing did not last throughout the year of the study. Patients' overall satisfaction scores declined at 12 months. On acoustic rhinometry, the minimal cross-sectional area and the total nasal volume did not show improvement, and there were no correlations with the subjective symptoms. Most of the complications associated with the RFA procedure were minimal and resolved within 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: RFA is a safe, simple, and effective procedure for relieving nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea for at least 12 months in drug-resistant allergic rhinitis.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nasal Obstruction ; Prospective Studies ; Pruritus ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Sneezing

The infection by Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri Claparède, 1862 (Oligochaeta: Tubificinae) in humans is relatively uncommon. The present report is to describe an incidental human infection with oligochaetes in the nasal cavity of a Chinese man, a 25-year-old man residing in Zhangjiakou city, Hebei province, China presenting with nose bleed, severe itching, continuous sneezing, and rhinorrhea. A lot of oligochaete worms were found in the nasal discharge of the patient. The detected worms were identified as Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri (Annelida: Oligochaeta) based on morphological and molecular characteristics. This incidental L. hoffmeisteri nasal infection is the first case in China and indicates that oligochaete worms can be encountered in humans.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; China ; Epistaxis ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity* ; Pruritus ; Sneezing

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilia in the nasal secretion and mucosal tissues is the characteristic finding of allergic rhinitis. We compared the effects of nasal budesonide dipropionate and oral terfenadine on the symptom score and nasal secretion eosinophils in perennial allergic rhinitics. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Study subjects consisted of 81 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis and nasal eosinophilia. Fifty-seven patients were treated with nasal budesonide and 24 patients were treated with oral terfenadine for two weeks respectively. Nasal secretion eosinophils were measured as the percentage of total leukocytes under microscope. Symptom scores for sneezing, rhinorrhea, obstruction and itching were graded from 0 (no symptom) to 3 (severe symptom). RESULTS: In budesonide treatment group, symptom score reduction (total symptom score before treatment-total symptom score after treatment) was 5.1, while it was 2.3 in the terfenadine treatment group, which revealed a statistically significant difference (p<0.01). Reduction of eosinophils was 50% in the budesonide treatment group and 28% in terfenadine treatment group (p=0.045). There was statistically significant correlation between total symptom score and % eosinophils (r= 0.668 , p<0.01 ) CONCLUSION: Although both the nasal budesonide and oral terfenadine substantially reduced the proportion of eosinophils in the nasal secretion as well as symptoms in allergic rhinitics with eosinophilia, budesonide was superior to terfendine. Nasal eosinophils correlated with reduction of allergic symptoms in a statisticaly significant manner.
Budesonide* ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Mucous Membrane ; Pruritus ; Rhinitis ; Sneezing ; Terfenadine*