The impact of allergic and nonallergic rhinitis on pediatric sinusitis.

There is a great deal of published evidence that there is a relationship between both allergic and nonallergic rhinitis and sinusitis in both pediatric and adult patients. The relationship between rhinitis and sinusitis may involve inflammation in one compartment leading to secondary inflammation in the other compartment, such as in the case of rhinitis leading to obstruction of the osteomeatal complex. The relationship may also involve individual manifestations of a shared process, such as allergic disease. A better understanding of the relationship between rhinitis and sinusitis may significantly influence the treatment of these common and important conditions.