Pediatria pre prax 2/2009

Cinsiderate decongestants

Allergic rhinitis is a disease characterized by the classic symptoms of rhinorrhea, obstruction of the nasal passage, sneezing and itching, all occuring in temporal relationship to allergen exposure. Treatment options include antihistamines, leukotriene antagonists, nasal corticosteroids, anticholinergics and decongestants. The use of nasal irrigation is currently recomended as an adjunctive treatment modality in many other sinonasal diseases. Recent evidence suggests that nasal irrigation with hypertonic saline is useful, tolerable, inexpensive and effective.

Keywords: allergic rhinitis, decongestants, hypertonic saline.