RESUMEN

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow Rate (PNIFR) is a clinical trial that has been instituted in clinical practice in order to determine the extent of nasal airway patency and it is used to assess the degree of nasal obstruction. This study attempts to provide tables referring to normal values of PNIFR in children and adolescents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three thousand one hundred and seventy pupils aged between 5-18 years, were selected to enter the study. Children with acute or chronic upper airway obstruction, such as acute obstructive pulmonary disease or allergic rhinitis and children below the 3rd percentile for weight and/or height were excluded from the study. All children that took part in the study were subjected to PNIFR measurements by using a portable Youlten Peak Flow meter. RESULTS: A continuous increase of PNIFR values for boys and girls in relation to age increase was recorded. PNIFR values were higher in boys compared to girls and this difference was statistically significant until the age of 12. CONCLUSION: Normal ranges for PNIFR standards are of great importance for the study of nasal patency, evaluation of the degree of nasal obstruction and application of treatment. This is the first time that a detailed description of PNIFR standards becomes available for the Greek population of children and adolescents.