Hypersaline nasal irrigation in children with symptomatic seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized study. Nasal irrigation for the alleviation of sinonasal symptoms. Effects on symptoms and quality of life of hypertonic saline nasal spray added to antihistamine in persistent allergic rhinitis--a randomized controlled study. Treatment with hypertonic saline versus normal saline nasal wash of pediatric chronic sinusitis. Effect of irrigation of the nose with isotonic salt solution on adult patients with chronic paranasal sinus disease. Nasal rinsing with hypertonic solution: an adjunctive treatment for pediatric seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Efficacy of daily hypertonic saline nasal irrigation among patients with sinusitis: a randomized controlled trial. Comparison of intranasal hypertonic dead sea saline spray and intranasal aqueous triamcinolone spray in seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Recent evidence suggests that nasal irrigation with hypertonic saline may be useful as an adjunctive treatment modality in the management of many sinonasal diseases. However, no previous studies have investigated the efficacy of this regimen in the prevention of seasonal allergic rhinitis-related symptoms in the pediatric patient. Twenty children with seasonal allergic rhinitis to Parietaria were enrolled in the study. Ten children were randomized to receive three-times daily nasal irrigation with hypertonic saline for the entire pollen season, which had lasted 6 weeks. Ten patients were allocated to receive no nasal irrigation and were used as controls. A mean daily rhinitis score based on the presence of nasal itching, rhinorrea, nasal obstruction and sneezing was calculated for each week of the pollen season. Moreover, patients were allowed to use oral antihistamines when required and the mean number of drug assumption per week was also calculated. In patients allocated to nasal irrigation, the mean daily rhinitis score was reduced during 5 weeks of the study period. This reduction was statistically significantly different in the 3th, 4th and 5th week of therapy. Moreover, a decreased consumption of oral antihistamines was observed in these patients. This effect became evident after the second week of treatment and resulted in statistically significant differences during the 3th, 4th and 6th week. This study supports the use of nasal irrigation with hypertonic saline in the pediatric patient with seasonal allergic rhinitis during the pollen season. This treatment was tolerable, inexpensive and effective. To determine the effect of nasal irrigation on sinonasal symptoms.
                A total of 150 adult subjects with chronic sinusitis symptoms were recruited from the community and assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: nasal irrigation with bulb syringe, nasal irrigation with nasal irrigation pot, or control treatment with reflexology massage. Groups 1 and 2 performed daily hypertonic saline irrigation with 1 device for 2 weeks and then with the other device for 2 weeks. Group 3 performed reflexology massage daily for 2 weeks. Prospective data collected included pretreatment Medical Outcomes Study Short Form, pretreatment and posttreatment Rhinosinusitis Outcomes Measure, daily medication use, subjective treatment efficacy, and preference of irrigation method.
                There was a significant and equivalent improvement in Rhinosinusitis Outcomes Measure 31 score after 2 weeks of intervention in each treatment group; 35% of subjects reported decreased use of sinus medication.
                Daily nasal irrigation using either a bulb syringe, nasal irrigation pot, and daily reflexology massage were equally efficacious and resulted in improvement in the symptoms of chronic sinusitis in over 70% of subjects. Medication usage was decreased in approximately one third of participants regardless of intervention. nan Chronic sinusitis (CS) is a common disease in children, especially those with allergies, that is caused by impaired drainage from the sinuses. Hypertonic NaCl solution has been shown to increase mucociliary clearance and ciliary beat frequency.
                We performed a randomized double blind study to compare the effect of nasal wash with hypertonic saline (HS) (3.5%) versus normal saline (NS) (0.9%) on CS.
                Thirty patients with CS aged 3 to 16 years were studied. They were randomly divided into two treatment groups matched by age and severity of the disease. Each individual was treated with either HS or NS for 4 weeks. All patients were evaluated by two clinical scores (cough and nasal secretions/postnasal drip [PND]) and by a radiology score at the beginning of the study and after 4 weeks.
                The HS group improved significantly in all scores (average +/- SD): cough score, from 3.6 +/- 0.51 to 1.6 +/- 0.74; nasal secretion/PND score, from 2.86 +/- 0.35 to 1.6 +/- 0.74; and radiology score, from 8.06 +/- 1.28 to 2.66 +/- 1.04. The NS treatment group showed significant improvement only in the PND score (from 2.66 +/- 0.49 to 1.53 +/- 0.83) but no significant change in both the cough score (from 3.53 +/- 0.52 to 3.33 +/- 0.49) and the radiology score (from 8.13 +/- 1.25 to 7.86 +/- 0.91). Clinical observation 1 month after the end of the study showed no change compared with the end of the study in both groups.
                HS nasal wash is an efficient treatment of CS. In a prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind trial we compared the effectiveness of endonasal irrigations with Ems salt solution to that with sodium chloride solution in the treatment of adult patients with chronic paranasal sinus disease. Subjects (n = 40) were randomly allocated to treatment either with isotonic Ems salt solution or with isotonic sodium chloride solution. The treatment consisted of endonasal irrigation twice daily and additional nasal spray as required. Nasal endoscopy, plain radiography of the paranasal sinuses, olfactometry, anterior rhinomanometry, and a saccharin-clearance test were carried out on days 1 and 7. Patients recorded rating scales of general discomfort, nasal airway obstruction, agreeableness of the irrigation, duration of improved nasal resistance after each irrigation, and the amount of additional nasal spray in a diary. Nasal air flow was not improved significantly. Subjective complaints, endonasal endoscopy, and radiography results revealed a significant improvement in both groups (P = 0.0001). In comparison, the two groups were not significantly different in outcome. Endonasal irrigations with salt solutions are effective in the treatment of chronic sinusitis, and a significant difference between Ems salt and sodium chloride was not observed. Recent but limited evidence suggests that nasal lavage with hypertonic saline may be useful as an adjunctive treatment modality in the management of pediatric allergic rhinitis. The aim of this study was to clarify whether nasal irrigation with hypertonic solution should be routinely recommended to children with seasonal grass pollen rhinoconjunctivitis.
                Fourty-four children with seasonal grass pollen rhinoconjunctivitis were recruited. Twenty-two patients were randomized to receive three-times daily nasal rinsing with hypertonic saline during the pollen season, which lasted 7 weeks. Twenty-two patients were allocated to receive no nasal irrigation and were used as controls. Twenty patients per group completed the study. A mean daily rhinoconjunctivitis score based on the presence of nasal discharge and obstruction as well as ocular symptoms as reddening and itching were calculated for each week of the pollen season. Patients were allowed to use oral antihistamines when required and the mean number of drugs taken per week was also calculated.
                The mean weekly rhinoconjunctivitis score in the active group was reduced during the whole pollen period. This difference was statistically significant in week 6 and 7 of therapy. A markedly reduced intake of oral antihistamines was also observed in patients allocated to nasal rinsing, being statistically significant in 5 of the 7 weeks. No adverse effect was reported in the active group.
                This study supports the use of nasal rinsing with hypertonic saline in the pediatric patient with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. This treatment proved to be tolerable, inexpensive and effective. To test whether daily hypertonic saline nasal irrigation improves sinus symptoms and quality of life and decreases medication use in adult subjects with a history of sinusitis.
                Randomized controlled trial. Experimental subjects used nasal irrigation daily for 6 months.
                Seventy-six subjects from primary care (n=70) and otolaryngology (n=6) clinics with histories of frequent sinusitis were randomized to experimental (n=52) and control (n=24) groups.
                Primary outcome measures included the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form (SF-12), the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index (RSDI), and a Single-Item Sinus-Symptom Severity Assessment (SIA); all 3 were completed at baseline, 1.5, 3, and 6 months. Secondary outcomes included daily assessment of compliance and biweekly assessment of symptoms and medication use. At 6 months, subjects reported on side effects, satisfaction with nasal irrigation, and the percentage of change in their sinus-related quality of life.
                No significant baseline differences existed between the 2 groups. Sixty-nine subjects (90.8%) completed the study. Compliance averaged 87%. Experimental group RSDI scores improved from 58.4 -/+ 2.0 to 72.8 -/+ 2.2 (P < or =.05) compared with those of the control group (from 59.6 -/+ 3.0 to 60.4 -/+ 1.1); experimental group SIA scores improved from 3.9 -/+ 0.1 to 2.4 -/+ 0.1 (P < or =.05) compared with those of the control group (from 4.08 -/+ 0.15 to 4.07 -/+ 0.27). The number needed to treat to achieve 10% improvement on RSDI at 6 months was 2.0. Experimental subjects reported fewer 2-week periods with sinus-related symptoms (P <.05), used less antibiotics (P <.05), and used less nasal spray (P =.06). On the exit questionnaire 93% of experimental subjects reported overall improvement of sinus-related quality of life, and none reported worsening (P <.001); on average, experimental subjects reported 57 -/+ 4.5% improvement. Side effects were minor and infrequent. Satisfaction was high. We found no statistically significant improvement on the SF-12.
                Daily hypertonic saline nasal irrigation improves sinus-related quality of life, decreases symptoms, and decreases medication use in patients with frequent sinusitis. Primary care physicians can feel comfortable recommending this therapy. Intranasal corticosteroids are well known to be efficacious in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Nasal irrigation with saline, including hypertonic saline, has long been recommended for the treatment of sinonasal disease, and it has been shown to have a positive effect on the physiology of the nasal mucosa. Until now, no study of the clinical efficacy of intranasal hypertonic Dead Sea saline as a monotherapy for seasonal allergic rhinitis has been reported. We conducted a prospective, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled comparison of intranasal hypertonic Dead Sea saline spray and intranasal aqueous triamcinolone spray in 15 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Results were based on a 7-day regimen. Based on Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire scores, clinically and statistically significant (p < 0.0001) improvements were seen in both active-treatment groups; as expected, the corticosteroid spray was the more effective of the two treatments. No significant improvement occurred in the control group. Our preliminary results not only confirm the efficacy of intranasal corticosteroid therapy in moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis, they also suggest that the Dead Sea saline solution can be an effective alternative in mild-to-moderate allergic rhinitis, particularly with respect to nasal and eye symptoms. The hypertonicity of the Dead Sea solution may have a positive effect on the physiology of the nasal mucosa by improving mucociliary clearance. In addition, the dominant cation in the Dead Sea solution--magnesium--probably exerts anti-inflammatory effects on the nasal mucosa and on the systemic immune response.
Saline irrigations are well tolerated. Although minor side effects are common, the beneficial effect of saline appears to outweigh these drawbacks for the majority of patients. The use of topical saline could be included as a treatment adjunct for the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis.