Investigation of Nebulized Therapy in Nasal Allergy

Abstract

Topical steroid therapy is effective in the treatment of patients with allergic rhinitis. Inhalation therapy with a nebulizer is advantageous because the risk of adverse effects is lower than systemic drug administration. Recently, portable mesh-type nebulizers have been developed, including a new mesh-type nebulizer for nasal diseases, and a nebulizer with an intermittent function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of this new portable device for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and discuss the appropriate therapy from the viewpoint of drug delivery.

We first examined the effectiveness of inhalation therapy with a mesh-type nebulizer in comparison with a jet-type nebulizer or topical nasal spray in allergic patients. We then examined the effectiveness of treatment with an intermittent type of nebulizer and a continuous type of nebulizer in patients with Japanese cedar allergic rhinitis randomly assigned to 2 groups. Each type of nebulizer was used for 2 weeks. The patients using the continuous type were instructed to inhale 0.5 mg /2 ml budesonide twice a day and patients using the intermittent type were instructed to inhale 0.25 mg/2 ml of budesonide twice a day. Nasal symptoms and nasal resistance were compared before and after treatment.

According to the results, there was no statistically significant difference between the 3 types of devices in terms of effectiveness as a topical steroid therapy. The effect of low dose steroid inhalation was similar to that of as high dose steroid therapy using an intermittent type of nebulizer. In conclusion, the new intermittent type of mesh nebulizer was effective in treating allergic rhinitis.