Pediatric Epistaxis and Its Correlation Between Air Pollutants in Beijing From 2014 to 2017.

BACKGROUND: Epistaxis is a common symptom in children. The effect of air pollution on epistaxis is not yet clear. OBJECTIVES: To explore the characteristics of pediatric epistaxis in Beijing and its correlation with air pollutants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were collected from 2014 to 2017 in Otolaryngology Department of Capital Institute of Pediatrics. Children diagnosed with epistaxis with relevant information with the same period of municipal air pollutants' concentration were compared. RESULTS: The annual visits of epistaxis showed a bimodal trend. The incidence of epistaxis in infants was low, increased with age, reached the peak between the ages of 4 to 5, and then gradually decreased with age. In different age groups, male patients were more than females. From 2014 to 2017 in Beijing, particulate matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5), particulate matter less than 10 µm in diameter (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) showed a downtrend, lower in summer than in the other 3 seasons. Ozone (O3) was significantly higher in 2016 and 2017, showed an increase trend in summer. The incidence of epistaxis was negatively correlated with PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2 and CO, which was positively correlated with O3 (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric epistaxis in Beijing changes with age and has obvious seasonal variation. There are some correlations between air pollutants and the incidence of epistaxis in children.

Pediatric coblation total tonsillectomy: intracapsular or extracapsular?

OBJECTIVES: To compare the results of coblation intracapsular total tonsillectomy (CITT) with those of conventional coblation extracapsular total tonsillectomy (CETT) in the treatment of tonsillar hypertrophy in children with regards to efficacy and complications. METHODS: Ninety children with adenotonsillar hyperplasia underwent tonsillectomy ± adenoidectomy (48 CITT and 42 CETT). Intraoperative situation was observed and recorded. Patients were reexamined regarding recovery condition and tonsil regrowth, and were followed for at least one year. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in four clinical features when the CITT group was compared with the CETT group: intraoperative bleeding score, intraoperative tonsillar fossa score, color of white membrane one day postoperatively, and visual analogue scale (VAS) value one week postoperatively (p < .05). There were statistical correlations between intraoperative bleeding score and age, course of disease, surgery method, number of acute tonsillitis attacks per year, and intraoperative tonsillar fossae score (p < .05). Two significant differences were noted when the tonsil hypertrophy group was compared with the chronic tonsillitis group: color of white membrane at one day and one week postoperatively (p < .05). No regrowth of tonsil was found. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with conventional extracapsular tonsillectomy, CITT has the advantages of decreased pain and bleeding, and promote healing of wounds. No tonsillar regrowth was observed after at least one year of follow-up.