Surgical intervention vs. medical therapy in allergic rhinitis

A surgical procedure could improve the quality of life of pediatric patients with refractory allergic rhinitis.

In a study published in the American Journal of Otolaryngology, researchers asked 34 patients aged 5 to 17 years with refractory allergic rhinitis to complete questionnaires regarding their sinonasal quality of life as well as obstructive sleep apnea and nasal obstruction symptoms at baseline and one and three months posttreatment. The patients were assigned to undergo surgical inferior turbinate reduction or continued medical management.

The researchers found that the patients in the surgery group demonstrated statistically significant symptom and quality-of-life improvements compared with those in the control group. Further, about 88% of the patients who received the surgical intervention experienced complete disease regression compared with just over 29% of those who continued medical therapy.

Read more: American Journal of Otolaryngology

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