To evaluate the effectiveness of inferior turbinate reduction compared to continued medical therapy in pediatric patients with refractory allergic rhinitis.
Key Findings:
Surgery resulted in greater mean reductions in symptom scores at 1 month compared to medical therapy.
At 1 month, complete disease regression was observed in 88% of surgical patients versus 29% of those receiving medical therapy.
At 3 months, surgical patients continued to show greater reductions in symptom scores and reduced dependence on medications.
Interpretation:
Inferior turbinate reduction significantly improves sinonasal symptoms, nasal obstruction, and sleep-related quality of life in children with refractory allergic rhinitis compared to continued medical therapy.
Limitations:
Small sample size and limited follow-up (only 20 of 34 patients at 3 months).
Non-randomized group allocation may introduce selection bias.
Outcomes based on patient-reported questionnaires without objective measures.
Conclusion:
Inferior turbinate reduction is a promising surgical option for pediatric patients with refractory allergic rhinitis, showing significant improvements in quality of life and symptom relief.
