Radioactive Merano SPA Treatment for Allergic Rhinitis Therapy

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Allergology
• Complementary Medicine

Background:

• Allergic rhinitis significantly impacts quality of life and incurs social costs.
• Intranasal corticosteroids are the primary pharmacological treatment for allergic rhinitis.
• Thermal water therapy is a traditional adjunctive treatment for chronic nasal conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical efficacy of inhaling radioactive oligomineral water vapors from Merano hot springs.
• To compare this thermal water treatment with mometasone furoate nasal spray for allergic rhinitis.

Main Methods:

• A prospective comparative study involving 90 allergic rhinitis patients.
• Treatment groups: radioactive thermal water inhalation vs. mometasone furoate nasal spray.
• Outcome measures included Sino-Nasal Outcome Test, rhinomanometry, mucociliary transport time, and cytology.

Main Results:

• Two weeks of thermal water inhalation demonstrated objective clinical and cytological improvements.
• The efficacy of thermal water treatment was comparable to mometasone furoate nasal spray.
• No significant differences were observed between the two treatment groups.

Conclusions:

• Nasal inhalation of radioactive hydrofluoric thermal water is an effective treatment for allergic rhinitis.
• This natural therapy provides benefits similar to conventional corticosteroid nasal sprays.
• Thermal water treatment presents a viable alternative or adjunctive therapy for allergic rhinitis.