Abstract
Currently, nasal allergies are an important disease group that affects the entire nation of Japan. Nasal allergies are treated primarily using the drugs specified in the Practical Guidelines for the Management of Allergic Rhinitis in Japan. Of the various drug therapies currently available, local treatments are considered highly effective. In recent years, portable nebulizers have been developed, and their usefulness for upper respiratory diseases has been recognized. In the present study, the usefulness of portable nebulizers for the treatment of hay fever was compared to that of nasal instillation. The results showed good effects, and no clear differences between the two treatments. The deposition of the drug solution inside the nasal cavity was compared between nebulizer treatment and nasal instillation in healthy human volunteers. With nebulizer treatment, the drug solution was widely deposited inside the nasal cavity. In contrast, with nasal instillation, the drug solution was deposited over a limited area, depending on how the head was tilted at the time of instillation. These results suggest that portable nebulizers are effective for the treatment of nasal allergies.
