Wojciech Kukwa1, Christian Guilleminault2, Magdalena Tomaszewska3, Andrzej Kukwa4, Antoni Krzeski5, Ewa Migacz6. 1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Medical University of Warsaw, 19/25 Stepinska Street, 00-739 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: wojciechkukwa@gmail.com. 2. Stanford University Sleep Medicine Division, Stanford, Outpatient Medical Center, 450 Broadway, MC5704, Redwood City, 94063 CA, USA. Electronic address: cguil@STANFORD.EDU. 3. Children's Memorial Health Institute, 20 Dzieci Polskich Av., 04-730 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: magabd77@gmail.com. 4. Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Disease, University of Varmia and Mazuria School of Medicine, 30 Warszawska Street, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland. Electronic address: andrzejkukwa@interia.pl. 5. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Medical University of Warsaw, 19/25 Stepinska Street, 00-739 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: antoni.krzeski@wum.edu.pl. 6. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Medical University of Warsaw, 19/25 Stepinska Street, 00-739 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: ewamigacz@gmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of upper respiratory tract infections (URI) - as indicated by rhinosinusitis (RS), ear infections (EI), and antibiotic consumption - in a general pediatric population and evaluate the relationship between these conditions and habitual snoring and mouth breathing during sleep. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was performed in three medium-sized Polish cities from 2011 to 2015. RESULTS: 4837/6963 questionnaires (69.5%) were completed, returned and analyzed. Mean age of studied group was 7.07 ± 0.72 and 7.14 ± 0.73 in girls and boys, respectively. Habitual mouth breathing during sleep (MB) was reported in 907 (18.7%) children and habitual snoring (HS) in 290 (6.0%). 230/290 (79.3%) of children with HS were also MB. Both HS and MB were more prevalent in boys than in girls (p = 0.027 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and neither was associated with BMI (p = 0.11 and p = 0.07, respectively). Habitual snoring and habitual mouth breathing were highly associated with more frequent bouts of rhinosinusitis, ear infections, and antibiotic use (p < 0.0001 for each parameter). CONCLUSIONS: Higher rates of rhinosinusitis, ear infections, and antibiotic consumption were similarly associated with HS and MB. MB is over three times more prevalent in the pediatric population relative to HS, therefore it might be considered as a risk factor for URI and may be included in history of URI.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of upper respiratory tract infections (URI) - as indicated by rhinosinusitis (RS), ear infections (EI), and antibiotic consumption - in a general pediatric population and evaluate the relationship between these conditions and habitual snoring and mouth breathing during sleep. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was performed in three medium-sized Polish cities from 2011 to 2015. RESULTS: 4837/6963 questionnaires (69.5%) were completed, returned and analyzed. Mean age of studied group was 7.07 ± 0.72 and 7.14 ± 0.73 in girls and boys, respectively. Habitual mouth breathing during sleep (MB) was reported in 907 (18.7%) children and habitual snoring (HS) in 290 (6.0%). 230/290 (79.3%) of children with HS were also MB. Both HS and MB were more prevalent in boys than in girls (p = 0.027 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and neither was associated with BMI (p = 0.11 and p = 0.07, respectively). Habitual snoring and habitual mouth breathing were highly associated with more frequent bouts of rhinosinusitis, ear infections, and antibiotic use (p < 0.0001 for each parameter). CONCLUSIONS: Higher rates of rhinosinusitis, ear infections, and antibiotic consumption were similarly associated with HS and MB. MB is over three times more prevalent in the pediatric population relative to HS, therefore it might be considered as a risk factor for URI and may be included in history of URI.