Arch Otolaryngol
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To review the initial signs, symptoms, and endoscopic findings in children admitted to the hospital for ingestion of caustic hair relaxer. ⋯ In our experience, hair relaxer ingestion makes up a significant proportion of all children admitted to the hospital for caustic ingestion. No significant esophageal injury was associated with hair relaxer ingestion, suggesting that endoscopy may not be necessary in these patients. Alternative management is suggested. We believe that patients who ingest hair relaxer should be admitted to the hospital for observation if parents are thought to be unreliable, and should undergo endoscopy if they cannot tolerate oral intake. Asymptomatic patients may be cared for as outpatients if they demonstrate adequate oral intake.
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To characterize the relationship between allergic rhinitis, the severity and duration of nasal disease, olfactory function, and self-reported olfactory symptoms, including fluctuations or distortions in odor perception. ⋯ There appears to be a continuum of duration and severity of olfactory loss in allergic rhinitis that parallels increasing severity of nasal-sinus disease. As a result of the increased frequency of respiratory infection associated with allergic rhinitis, these patients are at risk for damage to the olfactory epithelium.