Vol 21. no 1
March 2016
Intranasal glucocorticosteroids in the treatment of allergic rhinitis
(summary)
Magdalena Arcimowicz
Allergic rhinitis is a common chronic respiratory disease that affects millions
of individuals, both children and adults, their quality of life, productivity,
and other comorbid conditions, including asthma. According to
Polish epidemiological data, almost 9 million people suffer from allergic
rhinitis in our country. Consequently, it becomes not only a medical, but
also a public health problem. The main symptoms of this IgE-dependent
inflammation of nasal mucosa are: sneezing, itchy nose, rhinorrhoea and
nasal congestion (blockage). Most cases of allergic rhinitis successfully respond
to pharmacotherapy. According to the latest guidelines, the allergic
rhinitis treatment is based on the severity and duration of symptoms,
on the patient's age and consideration of intercurrent diseases. Patients
should be also advised to avoid known allergens and triggers (if it is possible)
and be educated about their disease and environmental factors.
Given the chronic nature of the condition the pharmacological treatment
should be safe, effective and easily administered. Intranasal glucocorticosteroids
are the most effective treatment and are recommended as
the first-line therapy for mild to moderate disease, both intermittent and
persistent, especially if the symptoms are troublesome, with predominantly
nasal blockage and affect patient’s quality of life. In meta-analyses,
intranasal corticosteroids are superior to other treatments, have
a good safety profile, and treat all symptoms of allergic rhinitis effectively.
In some allergic patients, despite the treatment, the disease becomes
only partly controlled. This may result from the lack of symptom-oriented
treatment, especially the lack or inadequate anti-inflammatory treatment
with intanasal glucocorticosteroids.
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