Cheap and Inexpensive Treatment for Sinus Problems

A new study, published in the most recent issue of the medical journal Archives of Otolaryngology- Head Neck Surgery, showed that saline irrigation is an easy, effective, safe, and cheap treatment to treat chronic nasal and sinus symptoms. In fact the study showed that it is more effective that commonly used saline nasal sprays.

The study evaluated the efficacy of saline irrigation treatments versus saline spray for short-term relief of chronic nasal symptoms, researchers said in their study.

According to the authors from a clinical point of view, study participants who used irrigation had a better quality of life than those who used nasal saline sprays. Quality of life was evaluated in regard to the severity of the nasal congestion and sinus symptoms and the recurrence (frequency of appearance) of those symptoms.

Dr. Pynnonen, M.D., lead researcher is a clinical assistant professor in the University of Michigan Department of Otolaryngology.

Experts estimate that in the United States approximately thirty-six million people suffer from nasal problems such as chronic rhinosinusitis. Millions more are affected by other types of allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. A great variety of treatments exist for these conditions but they are nor very well understood and treated. Treatments include use of diverse medications such as antibiotics, antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs

Flushing of nasal passages with a salt-water solution is what is known as saline irrigations and it was tested in this clinical trial study. Ear, nose and throat physicians have usually recommended saline irrigations for many sinus conditions.

More than 120 adults participated in this study. All had chronic nasal and sinus symptoms. Half of them (60) were treated with saline irrigation and the other half (61) were asked to use a commonly prescribed nasal saline spray. The study lasted eight weeks.

The 20-Item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test, an objective test to assess the severity of sinus medical issues, was used to evaluate the effect of both treatments. Also, the frequency of symptoms was measured.

Patients who used nasal irrigation scored lower on the severity test. This means their condition improved when compared to patients who used the saline nasal spray. At week 2 there was a 4.4% improvement, 8.2% improvement at week 4 and 6.4% at week eight

The frequency of symptoms was also evaluated. The saline irrigation group improved more (less frequent recurrence of symptoms) than the nasal saline spray group.

According to the results reported in this study, authors believe that saline nasal irrigation should be recommend more often. In addition, it is cheaper, they say.

Source:

Pynnonen et al. 2007. Nasal Saline for Chronic Sinonasal Symptoms. A Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007;133(11):1115-1120. URL: http://archotol.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/133/11/1115