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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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