Ciliary abnormalities of the respiratory system usually accompany recurrent or persistent respiratory diseases such as paranasal sinusitis, bronchiectasis, rhinitis, and/or otitis media, since they cause certain derangements in ciliary cleaning activities. This disease is usually inherited by autosomal recessive trait, but may also be found to be acquired or transient in rare cases after heavy exposure to pollutants, cigarette smoking or severe infection. We performed this study in children with frequently recurrent or persistent respiratory diseases to clarify if the ciliary abnormalities are preceding factors.

We enrolled 17 children with suspected respiratory ciliary abnormalities. The indications for evaluation of ciliary ultrastructure were recurrent or persistent respiratory infections. Children with immunologic abnormalities were excluded. From August 2000 to July 2003, we performed a biopsy on nasal mucosa and examined the structure of ciliary status by using an electron microscope.

Of the subjects, there were seven males and 10 females, aged 2 to 10 years. Out of the 17 subjects, 12 cases of chronic paranasal sinusitis, nine chronic coughs, nine frequent upper respiratory infections, seven cases of recurrent otitis media, four cases of recurrent pneumonia, and four cases of bronchial asthma were found. Out of the 17 cases on which histologic examinations were conducted, four cases showed pathologic findings, including one case of inner dynein arm defect, one of microtubular transposition, one of supernumerous tubules, and one singlet, respectively.

It is essential for differential diagnosis and effective treatment to identify the abnormalities of ultrastructure of nasal cilia in children with symptoms of frequently recurrent or persistent respiratory diseases, if immunodeficiency or respiratory allergy could be excluded.