| dc.description | The inferior turbinates are the largest of the 3 pairs of turbinates, playing a role in the humidification, directing, and filtering of air. Enlarged inferior turbinates can occur from environmental exposures such as cigarette smoking, allergies, and chronic rhinosinusitis. Enlargement due to abscess formation is highly unusual. Other abscesses of the nasal cavity can infrequently occur, usually caused by nasal trauma, surgery, or dental infections. Irritation and trauma results in blood vessel rupture and hematoma formation, allowing a static environment ideal for bacteria and abscess creation. Abscesses have been well reported in septoplasty literature with rates of infection and abscess formation widely ranging from 0.4% to 12% postoperatively.1 To the authors' knowledge, there have been no previous reports of an inferior turbinate abscess in an otherwise healthy pediatric patient. | |
