Featured Review: Saline irrigation for allergic rhinitis

A team of review authors from the UK and Thailand worked with theCochrane ENT Group to evaluate the benefits ofnasal saline irrigation in people with allergic rhinitis.Allergic rhinitis is inflammation (swelling and/or irritation) of the inside of the nose caused by allergies and is common in both children and adults. Common causes include grass or tree pollen, mould, dust mites or animal dander (tiny flakes of skin). People with allergic rhinitis experience symptoms (nasal obstruction, runny nose, nasal itching and sneezing) that may affect their quality of life.Nasal saline irrigation (also known as nasal douche, wash or lavage) is a procedure that rinses the nasal cavity with saline (salt water) solutions. How saline works is not fully understood but it is probably through making the mucus (snot) thinner, making it easier to remove and also removing some of the allergens from the nose that cause irritation. Nasal saline irrigation can be performed with sprays, pumps or squirt bottles. Although saline irrigation is thought to be safe there have been reports of epistaxis (nosebleeds) and irritation or discomfort in the nose and ears. This therapy is available without prescription and can be used alone or as an add-on to other pharmacological treatment for allergic rhinitis, such as intranasal (in the nose) steroids and oral antihistamines).Co-author of the review, Anna Schilder said, “The overall quality of evidence from this review was either low or very low because the s...
Source: Cochrane News and Events - Category: Information Technology Authors: Source Type: news