Is fungal infestation of paranasal sinuses more aggressive in pediatric population?

OBJECTIVE: Comparison of characteristic features, radiology, management and recurrence pattern of fungal sinusitis between children and adults.

METHODS: A prospective study conducted in the department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh in which all the cases presenting with the features of allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) between January 2000 and January 2005 were enrolled. These cases were divided into two groups, group 1 comprised of cases with age less than 15 years and group 2 with age more than 15 years. Detailed history, physical examination and nasal endoscopic examination and computed tomography (CT) scan of the paranasal sinuses was done in all the cases. The cases with prior history of sinonasal surgery were excluded from the study. All patients refractory to medical management were subjected to endoscopic sinus surgery. All the cases were followed up for a period ranging from 6 to 39 months to see for the recurrence. The data of both the groups was analysed statistically using chi square test.

RESULTS: The study population comprised of 200 cases, with 68 cases in group 1 and 132 cases in group 2. The most common symptom in both the groups was presence of nasal obstruction. The children had higher incidence of having unilateral disease (46 out of 68) compared with adults, where it was 38 out of 132. The bony erosion was seen more often in group 1. Surgery was done endoscopically in all the cases. The intra orbital or intra cranial extension was seen in 58 cases of group 1 and 47 cases of group 2 (p<0.001). Recurrence was seen in 18 (15 with intraorbital and 3 with intracranial extension) cases in group 1 and 13 cases (11 with intraorbital and 2 with intracranial extension) in group 2 (p<0.005).

CONCLUSION: In our study, we found a higher incidence of facial deformities, proptosis, intraorbital/intracranial extension and a higher rate of recurrence in group 1, therefore, suggesting a more aggressive nature of AFS in children than adults mandating an early diagnosis, proper management and regular follow up in these cases.