Objective: In order to evaluate nasal airway flow with peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) in children with conditions, such as allergic rhinitis causing nasal airway obstruction, normal values are needed. In this study we aimed to establish percentiles of PNIF for age and weight of healthy Turkish children by measuring PNIF of healthy school age children.

Materials and Methods: A total of 5572 children aged 6-15 years who were attending elementary school in the provinces of Izmir, Manisa, Usak, Kutahya, Afyon, Denizli, Mugla and Aydin were randomly assigned to the study group. From the study group, 5554 children had their measurements. Age, sex, weight and height of the children were recorded, and using a In-check flow meter (Clement-Clarke, Harlow, UK), PNIF measured and recorded.

Results: Of the 5554 children who were the members of study population 50.7% were boys and 49.3% were girls, and mean age was 10.8 ± 2.9 years. Mean PNIF value was 71.34 ± 32.63 L/minute with minimum of 10 and a maximum of 270. Boys had a significantly higher PNIF for age when compared to girls (p< 0.01). PNIF values were correlated with age, height and weight for both girls and boys.

Conclusion: We hope that our study, which is the first study dealing with the normal PNIF values in our country, would contribute to the objective evaluation of the children with nasal airway obstruction.