Effectiveness of the Nasal Irrigation Effectiveness in Treating Allergic Rhinitis in Children 6 to 12 Years Old

Bita Yadegary; Hamidreza Houshmand; Mir Reza Ghaemi

doi:10.18502/ijaai.v24i1.18016

Bita Yadegary Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Hamidreza Houshmand Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Mir Reza Ghaemi Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijaai.v24i1.18016

Keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Nasal irrigation; Normal saline; Pediatric

Abstract

Nasal irrigation, a nonpharmacological intervention for alleviating nasal symptoms, has yet to gain widespread acceptance among caregivers due to procedural ambiguities and the absence of a standardized protocol. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of normal saline nasal irrigation in managing allergic rhinitis among children aged 6 to 12 years.

This prospective, randomized, single-blind trial enrolled children aged 6 to 12 with allergic rhinitis. Fourthy-eight patients were randomly assigned to receive either standard care (oral antihistamine and intranasal corticosteroid) or standard care plus nasal irrigation with saline solution. Symptom severity, assessed using the Pediatric Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (PRQLQ) at baseline, 1, and 3 months, included rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, sneezing, pruritus, ocular symptoms, and functional impairment.

The intervention group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in several domains post-intervention. Specifically, a marked reduction in sneezing frequency and nasal cleansing requirements was observed. Moreover, this group reported significantly lower ocular symptoms, including irritation, itching, and watering, relative to the control group. Although overall PRQLQ scores did not differ significantly between groups, the intervention group exhibited lower scores at the 1- and 3-month follow-ups, indicative of enhanced quality of life. These findings suggest a potential beneficial effect of the intervention on participant well-being.

The findings of this study indicate that nasal irrigation with 0.65% saline solution 4 times daily may serve as an effective adjunct treatment for children with allergic rhinitis. This regimen was associated with significant enhancements in both nasal symptom severity and quality of life.