How Does Adenotonsillectomy Affect the Olfactory Threshold in Children?

Adenotonsillectomy is one of the main operations on the head and neck surgery quality in children. This study aimed to compare the olfactory threshold changes in adenotonsillectomy patients. This comparative study was done on 152 children whom candidate for adenotonsillectomy before and 3 weeks after the operation referred to the Dr. Kermanshahi Hospital, Kermanshah, Iran during 2015-2016. The olfactory threshold was determined by olfactory test using phenyl butyl alcohol in propylene glycol. The orthonasal test was done by a strip and the lowest propylene glycol detection used as olfactory threshold. The mean age was 6.81 ± 3.83 of patients were boys and 69 of them were girls. The allergic rhinitis was detected in 83.6% of the patients before the adenotonsillectomy while it was only in 16.4% after adenotonsillectomy. Also, nocturia was higher before the adenotonsillectomy 104 (68.4%) compared to post-adenotonsillectomy 48 (31.6%). In 73 (48%) patients, the sleep quality score was 10 after the surgery while there was a patient with score 10 before the operation. The positive allergic rhinitis was higher in male 70 (84.3%) compared to female 57 (82.6%). Also, no significant difference detected on nocturia ( = 0.531). Also, significant difference detected between 2 groups in sleep quality score before and after the adenotonsillectomy ( = 0.001). The olfactory threshold significantly improved after surgery compared to previous ( = 0.034). These results suggest olfactory threshold improves after adenotonsillectomy in children.