Prevalence of adenoid hypertrophy in adults with nasal obstruction.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of adenoid hypertrophy in adults presenting with nasal obstruction.

Design: A prospective study was conducted. Descriptive analysis was used for statistical analysis.

Setting: Fifty-five patients above the age of 17 years who presented with nasal obstruction were enrolled in the study. Forty-nine patients with no history of nasal obstruction were matched according to age and gender as controls. Allergy, pattern of nasal obstruction (continuous vs intermittent and unilateral vs bilateral), and symptoms such as nasal discharge, postnasal drip, headache, and facial pain were investigated in relation to the presence or absence of adenoid hypertrophy. Nasal findings such as the presence of intranasal polyps and potency of the osteomeatal complex were also reviewed.

Results: The overall prevalence of adenoid hypertrophy in adults with nasal obstruction approached 63.6% in patients with nasal obstruction and 55.1% in the control group (p = .007).

Conclusion: Adenoid hypertrophy is often underestimated in adults with nasal obstruction. The presence of purulent nasal discharge should stimulate the caring physician to do nasal endoscopy for proper diagnosis.