title: The effectiveness of nasal saline irrigation (seawater) in treatment of allergic rhinitis in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of nasal saline irrigation in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) in children and to assess whether nasal saline irrigation could be used as a complementary therapy for AR in children in combination with the intranasal corticosteroids (INS).
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 61 children with AR were divided into three groups: the nasal irrigation, intranasal corticosteroid, and combined treatment groups. Symptoms and signs of AR and eosinophils (EOS) in the nasal secretions were evaluated after 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In AR children treated with nasal irrigation and a decreased the INS dose, a significant improvement in symptoms and signs and a significant decrease in the mean EOS count in nasal secretions were observed at week 12.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nasal saline irrigation with physiological seawater is well tolerated and benefits the patients with AR, and can thus be considered a good adjunctive treatment option to maintain the effectiveness of the INS at a lower dose, thus resulting in reduced side effects and a decreased economic burden.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Rui
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: chhshent@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055556:Nasal Lavage; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000628:therapy*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D012965:Sodium Chloride
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Intranasal corticosteroids; Nasal saline irrigation; Seawater