PURPOSE: to determine the occurrence of rhinitis, mouth breathing and orofacial alterations in adolescents with asthma. METHOD: cross-sectional study was conducted with 155 adolescents with asthma from 12 to 15 years old and both sexes, treated at the Institute Professor Fernando Figueira. The survey consisted of two phases: the first to review patients' records and carrying out two tests for further evaluation of respiratory function, being one with the help of the Glatzel mirror and the other with the counting of time of water in the mouth; the second through identification of clinical examination for orofacial alterations. RESULTS: the frequency of allergic rhinitis was high (80.6%), with no significant difference between female (80.9%) and male (80.5%). Regarding the pattern of breathing, 32.9% of the patients presented oral breathing. The most common facial changes for males were dark circles (93.1%), high palate (82.8%), dry lips (70.1%), inadequate lip sealing (77.0%), droopy eyes (62.1%) and elongated face (57.5%). Females had the highest frequency for the following characteristics: dark circles (91.2%), high palate (85.3%), inadequate lip sealing (67.6%), dry lips (63.2%) elongated face (66.2%) and narrow upper lip (57.4%). CONCLUSION: in adolescents with asthma, the frequency of allergic rhinitis was high, as well as the occurrence of oral breathing and facial changes.
Asthma; Rhinitis; Mouth Breathing
