Rhinomanometry in young patients with perennial allergic rhinitis with/without recent exposure to tobacco smoke

Objective: To assess the influence of environmental exposure to tobacco smoke on the nasal symptoms and nasal resistance of young patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Tertiary referral centre. Participants: Fifty patients were evaluated (aged 10-19 years old): 25 patients with and 25 patients without recent exposure to tobacco smoke (confirmed by cotinine/creatinine ratio). Main outcomes measures: After a clinical evaluation, all the patients replied to a validated questionnaire of the severity of the nasal symptoms. Then total nasal airway resistance was recorded by active anterior rhinomanometry. Results: Patients with exposure to tobacco smoke had a larger total resistance than patients without exposure (t-test, P < 0.01). No significant correlation was observed between the total score of the questionnaire of nasal symptoms and the nasal resistance. Conclusions: In young patients with perennial allergic rhinitis, exposure to tobacco smoke can be related to increased nasal resistance, which may not be recognised by the report of nasal symptoms.