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Nasal irrigation with Nasir® in children: a preliminary experience on nasal cytology
M Gelardi1, S Taliente1, K Piccininni1
1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Insights
Saline nasal irrigation using the Nasir® device effectively reduced inflammation in children with allergic rhinitis. This treatment lowered neutrophil and eosinophil counts in nasal cytology, improving upper airway inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Rhinology
- Medical Device Technology
Background:
- Allergic rhinitis (AR) and upper airway infections significantly impact children's quality of life, school performance, and family well-being.
- Saline nasal irrigation is a common method to alleviate nasal symptoms and improve nasal cavity clearance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of nasal irrigation with the Nasir® device on nasal cytology in children diagnosed with allergic rhinitis.
- To assess the impact of this intervention on inflammatory markers within the nasal passages.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving 66 children (aged 4-17 years) with allergic rhinitis.
- Participants underwent nasal irrigation using the Nasir® device with a warm saline solution (36°C), one 250 mL sac twice daily for 12 days.
- Nasal cytology was analyzed pre- and post-treatment to quantify inflammatory cell infiltration.
Main Results:
- Nasal irrigation significantly reduced neutrophilic infiltrate (p < 0.05) and eosinophilic infiltrate (p < 0.05) in nasal cytology.
- No significant changes were observed in bacterial counts post-treatment (p = 0.17).
- The Nasir® device demonstrated a reduction in key inflammatory markers associated with allergic rhinitis.
Conclusions:
- Nasal irrigation with the Nasir® device may be a beneficial adjunctive therapy for attenuating upper airway inflammation in pediatric allergic rhinitis.
- This pilot study suggests a potential role for the Nasir® device in managing allergic rhinitis symptoms by reducing nasal inflammation.
Abstract:
Allergic rhinitis (AR) and upper airway respiratory infections are frequent in children, and both have a relevant impact on some social aspects, including school attendance and performance, sleep, quality of life (also of the parents), and costs. Saline nasal irrigation is widely employed to reduce nasal congestion and mucopurulent secretion, to stimulate cleansing of the nasal and paranasal cavities, and to induce restoration of mucociliary clearance. The present study evaluated the effects of nasal irrigation on nasal cytology, using the new device Nasir® in 66 children (40 males, 26 females, mean age 7.31±1.7 years, age range 4-17 years) with allergic rhinitis. The patients were treated with nasal irrigation with warm (36°C) Nasir® (250 mL sacs of premixed solution): one sac twice daily for 12 days. Nasal irrigation significantly reduced the neutrophilic infiltrate (baseline median value 2.8±0.7; post treatment value 2±0.5; p less than 0.05). In addition, there was a reduction of eosinophil infiltrate (T0= 3.2±1.1; T1= 2.6±1.2; p= less than 0.05). There was no significant change with regard to bacteria (T0= 2.7±0.9; T1= 2.3±1.02; p= 0.17). In conclusion, this pilot study reports that nasal irrigation with Nasir® might be useful to attenuate upper airway inflammation.
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