Objective: To investigate the range of normal value of minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) of the nasal cavity, distance of minimal cross-sectional area from the nostril (DCA), total nasal cavity volume(NV) and total nasopharyngeal cavity volume (NPV) of healthy infants.
Method: One hundred and seventy-five healthy infants and one hundred and eight infants suffered from acute upper respiratory tract infection were measured with acoustic rhinometry.
Result: The range of total MCA of healthy infants was 0.2-0.5 (cm)2, DCA was 1.93-2.47 cm, NV was 2.69-4.75 cm3 and NPV was 3.83-8.92 cm3. Comparing healthy infants with infants suffered from acute upper respiratory tract infection, there all were significant differences in MCA, DCA and NV.
Conclusion: Acoustic rhinometry suit objective assessment of the nasal airways in infants. It is demonstrated that these data can provide available information for the study of nasal physiology and pathophysiology, well as for the diagnosis and judgement of therapeutic effectiveness of nasal diseases.