title: Efficacy of nasal irrigation in the treatment of acute sinusitis in atopic children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nasal irrigation has been used as adjunctive therapy for sinonasal disease but is under-researched in children. The study aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of nasal irrigation with normal saline in the management of acute sinusitis in atopic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 60 atopic children with acute sinusitis, of whom 29 received nasal irrigation with normal saline and 31 did not receive nasal irrigation. All participants underwent a nasal peak expiratory flow rate (nPEFR) test, a nasal smear examination, and radiography (Water's projection) and were requested to complete a Pediatric Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (PRQLQ) during the baseline visit. All participants were requested to record symptoms in a daily diary and were followed up at 1-week intervals. A physical examination, nasal smear, and nPEFR were performed at each visit, and all daily diaries were collected. At the final visit (after 3 weeks), the symptom diaries were reviewed and participants were requested to complete the PRQLQ again. nPEFR, radiography, and a nasal smear were also repeated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant improvements in mean PRQLQ and nPEFR values (p < 0.05) for the irrigation compared to the non-irrigation group. There was no significant difference in radiographic findings between the groups (p > 0.05). The irrigation group recorded significant improvements in eye congestion, rhinorrhea, nasal itching, sneezing, and cough symptoms compared with the non-irrigation group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nasal irrigation is an effective adjunctive treatment for acute sinusitis in atopic children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yun-Hu
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Min-Sho
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hai-Lun
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: cshy095@csh.org.tw.
authors.forename: Ko-Huang
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lue
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055556:Nasal Lavage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride