Clinical Question: Is a pollen bloc...

Clinical Question: Is a pollen blocker cream effective in preventing allergic rhinitis?

Setting: Outpatient (specialty)

close attention Design: Crossover trial (randomized)

Synopsis: In this subject of attention the authors enrolled 91 white patients in Russia and Germany who had been allergic to house dust mites, animal dander, or pollen for at least sum of two units years. The study compared petrolatum with a placebo of carboxymethylcellulose gel which is aqueous and does not last prolonged Because this was a crossover contemplation patients received, in a random fashion, treatment with the one and the other products. The patients applied the same product four times a day for three days, and then, after single day of no therapy, they used the other crops for three days.

Efficacy was assessed with a nasal provocation ordeal using the allergen at a concentration previously demonstrated to elicit symptoms in each patient. Sneezing, nasal discharge, and "other related symptoms" (eg tearing, ear itch) each were assigned a value from cipher to 2 (maximum score = 6) Scores unrelenting from a median of 4 to a median of 1 following the use of petrolatum; after using placebo, scores knock down from a median of 4 to a median of 3 (both statistically significant). Nasal airflow rates were similar between the brace treatments. Symptoms were slightly lower with either treatment given in the secondary three-day phase, perhaps reflecting that, above time, patients became better at applying the products

Bottom Line: Petrolatum applied four times a day to the nares terminates in a significant improvement in provok nasal allergic symptoms. The thought was carefully controlled and ensues may not be the same in practice. Other than an extremely small risk of lipid pneumonia, however, coating the inside of the nose with petrolatum is a nontoxic, non-systemic treatment approach in patients with allergic rhinitis. (Level of Evidence: 2b)

research Reference: Schwetz S, et al. Efficacy of pollen blocker cream in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg August 2004;130:979-84

Used with permission from Shaughnessy AF. Pollen blocker cream effective for allergic rhinitis. Accessed online December 28 2004 at: http://www.InfoPOEMs.com.

COPYRIGHT 2005 American Academy of Family Physicians

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