[Characteristics of pediatric nasal airway resistance].

The nasal airway resistance (NAR) was determined in 739 normal children and 20 patients with enlarged adenoids by means of anterior rhinomanometry. It was demonstrated that the normal value of NAR in children ranged between 1.96 and 5.26 cmH2O.s/L (1 cmH2O = 0.098 kPa) with extensive distributions and great inter-personal variations. There was no significant difference of NAR between male and female in different age groups (P greater than 0.05). Adenoidal proliferation played an important role in determining the pediatric NAR. The NAR changes may be closely related to anatomical and physiological changes occurring in the nose with growing.