The clinical diagnostics of olfactory dysfunction in children turns out to be challenging due to low attention span, insufficient linguistic development and lack of odor experiences. Several smell tests have been developed for adults. Most of these examinations take a relatively long time and require a high level of concentration. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate an odor discrimination and olfactory threshold test using the frequently used “Sniffin’ Sticks” in children and adolescents in a simplified two-alternative-forced-choice version (2AFC) and compare it to the original three-alternative-forced-choice test (3AFC). One-hundred-twenty-one healthy participants aged between 5 and 17 years took part in this study. Within each of the two sessions participants underwent olfactory testing using the modified 2AFC as well as the standard 3AFC method. A better test-retest reliability was achieved using the original 3AFC method compared to the modified 2AFC. This was true for the odor discrimination as well as the olfactory threshold. Age had a significant influence on both tests, which should be considered when testing young children. We discuss these findings with relation to the existing norms and recommend using the 3AFC version due to a better test-retest reliability to measure olfactory function in children.

The clinical diagnostics of olfactory dysfunction in children turns out to be challenging due to low attention span, insufficient linguistic development and lack of odor experiences. Several smell tests have been developed for adults. Most of these examinations take a relatively long time and require a high level of concentration. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate an odor discrimination and olfactory threshold test using the frequently used “Sniffin’ Sticks” in children and adolescents in a simplified two-alternative-forced-choice version (2AFC) and compare it to the original three-alternative-forced-choice test (3AFC). One-hundred-twenty-one healthy participants aged between 5 and 17 years took part in this study. Within each of the two sessions participants underwent olfactory testing using the modified 2AFC as well as the standard 3AFC method. A better test-retest reliability was achieved using the original 3AFC method compared to the modified 2AFC. This was true for the odor discrimination as well as the olfactory threshold. Age had a significant influence on both tests, which should be considered when testing young children. We discuss these findings with relation to the existing norms and recommend using the 3AFC version due to a better test-retest reliability to measure olfactory function in children.

Die Untersuchung von Gewaltopfern und die Dokumentation von Verletzungen gehört zur Routinetätigkeit in der Klinischen Rechtsmedizin. Am häufigsten werden Folgen stumpfer Gewalteinwirkung festgestellt. Diese Untersuchungen geraten an ihre Grenzen, wenn z.B. Hautunterblutungen (noch) nicht oder bereits nicht mehr sichtbar sind. Die vorliegende Arbeit belegt den Nutzen von ultravioletter (UV) Strahlung zur Sichtbarmachung verblasster und mit bloßem Auge nicht erkennbare Hämatome. Die durch UV-Strahlung hervorgerufene Fluoreszenz von gesundem im Vergleich zu geschädigtem Gewebe kann teils noch bis zu Monate nach einer Verletzung Unterschiede aufweisen. Somit stellt das hier untersuchte Verfahren eine kostengünstige, schnelle und zuverlässige Alternative des Methodenspektrums rechtsmedizinischer Untersuchungstechniken dar.:1. Bibliographische Beschreibung 2. Introduction 3. Background 3.1. Hematoma 3.2. Electromagnetic radiation 3.3. Fluorescence 3.4. UV radiation 3.5. UV-induced fluorescence 3.6. Hematoma fluorescence 3.7. UV-photography 3.8. Alternative non-invasive 4. Motivation & Purpose of this Thesis 5. Publication 6. Summary & Conclusion 6.1. Background 6.2. Aim 6.3. Material and Method 6.4. Results 6.5. Thesis 6.6. Conclusion 7. Appendix 7.1. Bibliography 7.2. Core Data 7.3. Declaration of Independence 7.4. Curriculum vitae 7.5. Publications 7.6. Acknowledgements / Identification and age determination of hematomas is daily work in forensic medicine. Following blunt trauma, a hematoma may be visible between a few hours and up to three weeks. Patients presenting their injuries outside of that timeframe usually miss visual signs. Various studies indicate that ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can aid the process of hematoma identification, when visible signs are vague or even absent. In this thesis hematoma identification using UV- induced fluorescence is discussed as simple, economic and convenient method.:1. Bibliographische Beschreibung 2. Introduction 3. Background 3.1. Hematoma 3.2. Electromagnetic radiation 3.3. Fluorescence 3.4. UV radiation 3.5. UV-induced fluorescence 3.6. Hematoma fluorescence 3.7. UV-photography 3.8. Alternative non-invasive 4. Motivation & Purpose of this Thesis 5. Publication 6. Summary & Conclusion 6.1. Background 6.2. Aim 6.3. Material and Method 6.4. Results 6.5. Thesis 6.6. Conclusion 7. Appendix 7.1. Bibliography 7.2. Core Data 7.3. Declaration of Independence 7.4. Curriculum vitae 7.5. Publications 7.6. Acknowledgements