Role of nasal douching in chronic allergic rhinitis

Abstract

Objective: The present study was carried out to evaluate the role of nasal douching in the treatment of allergic rhinitis using daily allergic rhinitis symptom score. Material & Methods: 120 patients of chronic allergic rhinitis who attended otorhinolaryngology outdoor of Ananta Institute of Medical Sciences, Rajsamand, Rajasthan were included in the study. patients were divided into two equal groups viz. group A (n=60) in which patients were treated with antihistamincs, leukotriene receptor antagonists and intranasal steroid sprays and group B (n=60) in which isotonic saline nasal douching was advised to the patients three times a day as an adjunctive to the medical treatment. Patients were followed up after 2 week and 4 weeks. Mean daily allergic rhinitis symptom score were calculated at each follow up and compared between the two groups. Results: out of 120 patients, 63 were male and 57 were female. Age of the patients ranges from 20 to 60 years with the mean age of 36.5 years. Mean daily rhinitis scores of group A and group B were 14.6±1.6 and 14.3±2.0 respectively (p value3.661) which was reduced to 8.9±2.1 and 7.1±1.8 respectively and the difference was found to be statistically significant ( p value <0.0001). At 4th week follow up, the scores of were further reduced to 3.8±1.7 and 2.2±0.9 respectively and the difference was found to be statistically significant (p value <0.0001). Conclusion: Nasal douching is an effective method to manage symptoms of allergic rhinitis when used along with other medical treatment including intranasal steroids, antihistaminics and leukotriene receptor antagonists.