Pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis: a retrospective review

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a major cause of morbidity in the pediatric population and a difficult entity to treat with a poorly defined pathophysiology and diagnostic criteria. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) has proven to be effective for these patients, but concerns remain regarding its possible interference with facial growth. Recently, stepwise treatment protocols, which include maxillary sinus irrigation followed by long-term intravenous (IV) antibiotics, have been demonstrated to be effective alternatives to FESS. However, long-term IV therapy is inconvenient and not without complications. The purpose of this study is to review one institution's experience in treating medically refractory pediatric CRS, specifically to describe the epidemiology of the affected population and estimate the success of a stepped treatment protocol using long-term double oral antibiotic therapy for its treatment. A retrospective review of the medical records of 23 patients who received treatment. Mean age was 2.3 years. Clinical resolution was achieved in 96% of patients and in 78% without the use of IV antibiotics. Four patients who required IV antibiotics subsequently tested positive for immune deficiency. Long-term resolution rate was 78% overall and 86% for those that did not require IV antibiotics. No complications were reported, and no patients required FESS. A stepwise protocol that includes concurrent adenoidectomy and bilateral maxillary sinus irrigation followed by long-term double oral antibiotic therapy is safe and effective for the treatment of pediatric CRS. Patients with immunodeficiency may require long-term IV therapy to achieve symptom resolution.