Abstract
Background: In recent years, pediatric chronic sinusitis patients who don't respond with antibiotics are increasing, but there are a few reports on the herbal medicine therapy treating pediatric chronic sinusitis, so this report was studied. Objective: To demonstrate the effect of herbal medicine therapy in the chronic sinusitis before and after treatment using computed tomograpy (CT) and plain radiograpy. Materials and methods: Ninty patients (45 mail and 45 femail) treated in our hospital between February 1998 and August 1999 were studied. Ages ranged from 3 to 13 years (mean age :6.5 years). Sixty two patients had a underlyiing family history (allergy or sinusitis of parents or brothers), In the past history, 68 patients had asthma, allergy of milk, atopic dermatitis, bronchiollitis and irritable bowel syndrom. Illness period was from 10 days to 96 months (mean period:12.4 month). Duration of treatment were from 25 days to 200days (mean:96 days). To ascertain the efficacy of treatment, CT in the 42 and plain radiopgrapy in the 48 patients were checked out. In the CT, three images were obtained 2cm interval on the coronal and axial plan. CT findings of the chronic sinusitis were analyzed for mucoperiostal thickening before and after treatment using 4 grades;(normal, mild, moderate, severe). Normal was defined as below 3mm thickening of mucoperiosteum; mild was 3-5mm thickening; moderate was 5mm-1cm thickening; severe was above 1cm thickening. Plain radiograpy using Water's view provided maxillary sinus, anterior ethmoid sinus, frontal sinus. Normal was defined as simillar to density between sinus and oronasal cavity; mild was defined as generally increased density with no significant mucoperiosteal thickning; moderate was partial mucosal thickening without bony hypertropy; severe was total haziness with mucoperiosteal thickening. Gamihyunggyeyungyo-tang was administered mainly. Gamigwaghyangjeungki-san, Gamizwakwi-eum and Gamihyangso-san were administered for through oral route additional symptoms Results: Of the 90 patients, 84 patients showed complete recovery (93%), 4 patients showed no significant interval change(4%) and 2 patients were aggrevated (2%). Sixty patients were severe(67%) and 26 patients were moderate (29%), 4 patients were mild(4%) The duration of treatment was varied with patient conditions (91 days in average); severe were 101.7 days, moderate were 70 days and mild were 63 days. Fifty three patients with maxillary and ethmoid sinusitis were 114 days, 35 patients with maxillary sinusitis only were 71.5 days. Fifty eight patients with both maxillary sinusitis were 94.6 days, 26 patients with either maxillary sinusitis were 65 days. The symtoms of chronic sinusitis were nasal obstruction(75%), cough(69%), purulunt or mucosal discharge(62%), lymphoid follicle(54%), postnasal dripping(49%), headache(23%) and nose bleeding(22%). Conclusion: We know that herbal medicine therapy is the effective treatment of pediatric chronic sinusitis using plain radiograpy and CT. The duration of treatment may be significant assosiation with the location and degree of chronic sinusitis.
