A COMPARATIVE STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFICACY OF HYDROXYPROPYLMETHYLCELLULOSE POWDER OVER STEROID SPRAY IN TREATMENT OF ALLERGIC RHINITIS IN THE DEPTT. OF ENT AND HEAD & NECK SURGERY, SILCHAR MEDICAL COLLEGE & HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objective: To assess the efficacy of Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose powder over steroid nasal spray in treatment of allergic rhinitis. Methods: A prospective study of 60 patients suffering from allergic rhinitis was conducted in the ENT and Head & Neck surgery Department, Silchar medical College and Hospital from April 2018 to August 2018.The study subjects were divided into two groups A and B. Group A was treated with oral antihistaminic and steroid nasal spray, while group B was treated with oral antihistaminics and HYDROXYPROPYLMETHYLCELLULOSE powder nasal spray for 4 weeks. The treatment outcomes were evaluated after 14 days and 28 days from the beginning of treatment, by assessing relief of symptom on a five point scale. Results: There was almost similar score in both the groups ranging between score 3 and 4(i.e., relief of nasal obstruction and sneezing) after 14 days of treatment (62% vs 64%). But after 28 days there was significantly better improvement score of group B study subjects over group A in score 5 (i.e., complete relief from symptoms (83.3% vs. 66.6% ).In both the groups, mild sedation at the beginning of the treatment was reported in some patients, which is a well known side effect of antihistaminics. Conclusion: The result obtained comparing both the groups indicated high efficacy of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose powder over steroid nasal spray in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.