A Prospective Randomized Open Trial of Nasal Irrigation and Nasal Decongestant for Sinusitis in Children

Cho, Yeon Soo; Kim, Min Sung; Chun, Yoon Hong; Yoon, Jong seo; Kim, Hyun Hee; Kim, Jin Tack; Lee, Joon Sung

Abstract

PURPOSE
The management of sinusitis in children is controversial. Antibiotic is known as the most essential management. Despite nasal irrigation and nasal decongestant have been used as adjunctive treatments of sinusitis, it is still unclear whether these are effective on sinusitis. Therefore, we used antibiotics with either nasal irrigation and an oral nasal decongestant and tried to estimate the outcome of each case.
METHODS
This study was conducted with sinusitis patients who visited our pediatric respiratory disease clinic. They were randomized into 4 groups: Group 1 were treated with a high dose of amoxicillin only; Group 2 were treated with nasal irrigation and a high dose of amoxicillin; Group 3 were treated with a nasal decongestant and a high dose of amoxicillin; and Group 4 were treated with nasal irrigation, a oral nasal decongestant, and a high dose of amoxicillin. Responses to treatment were estimated more than 4 days after the beginning of the therapy in acute or subacute sinusitis, and more than 7 days chronic sinusitis.
RESULTS
The responses to the treatments the 4 groups were not comparable. A favorable therapy was not found, regardless of whether a patient had suppurative rhinorrhea, nasal stuffness, typical findings of PNS plain radiograph, or adenoid hypertrophy.
CONCLUSION
The use of nasal irrigation or a oral nasal decongestant as an additional therapy to antibiotics for the symptoms of pediatric sinusitis showed no additional effects on sinusitis.