NEW ORLEANS - Daily nasal irrigation with hypertonic saline solution improves sinus symptoms and quality of life and decreases medication use in adults with a history of sinusitis.
One teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1 pint of lukewarm tap water make up the long-sought recipe for success in treating chronic sinusitis, Dr. David Rabago said at the annual meeting of the North American Primary Care Research Group. [
Sinusitis patients in a randomized controlled trial who flushed their nasal cavity daily with this saline solution reported fewer headaches, less sinus pain, pressure, discharge, and congestion, and a reduced reliance on antibiotics and nasal sprays at the end of the 6-month study period. No similarly significant changes were reported for the control group (J. Fain. Pract. 51[12]:1049-55, 2002).
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The well-tolerated therapy is "a simple solution to a common, expensive clinical problem," said Dr. Rabago of the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Of the patients in the experimental group, 93% reported overall improvement of sinus-related quality of life. None reported a worsening of symptoms.
All 76 patients recruited from primary care and otolaryngology clinics had histories of frequent sinusitis diagnoses, the symptoms of which significantly impaired their self-reported quality of life, he said.
Of the subjects, 52 were randomized to the nasal irrigation therapy group and 24 were randomized to the control group. There were no significant differences at baseline among the patients, Dr. Rabago said.
The nasal irrigation patients were instructed to flush each nostril daily with the saline solution using a nasal irrigation cup (see box) along with routine care as needed. The control subjects continued with routine care during the period of study.
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