Rhinosinusal manifestations in an asthmatic child population: diagnosis approach and management

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease often associated with rhinosinusitis. The objective was to study rhinosinusitis in a population of asthmatic children followed at the Cotonou National University Hospital Center for Pulmonology and Phthisiology (CNHU-PPC). This cross-sectional study, with descriptive and analytical aims, was conducted within a prospective cohort of children diagnosed with asthma and followed by a pulmonologist at the CNHU-PPC. It took place during August 2024. The patients were between 10 and 18 years old. They underwent an interview and an ENT physical examination, which allowed for the collection of family history, environmental factors, symptoms, and rhinosinusitis signs. Asthma control was assessed using the Asthma Control Test (ACT) score. Three hundred and eight (308) children participated in the study. The mean age was 14.8 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 0.76. The prevalence of rhinosinusitis was 82.5%. Physical signs of rhinosinusitis were identified in 74% of cases. Factors associated with the occurrence of rhinosinusitis were environmental exposures (p = 0.038), familial atopy (p = 0.030), and asthma control (p = 0.001). Patients with uncontrolled asthma were at higher risk of experiencing rhinosinusitis. Ensuring asthma control through appropriate protocols and access to medications is essential to reduce the risk of rhinosinusitis. Joint management by a pulmonologist and an ENT specialist is clearly beneficial.