Effect of topical nasal steroid spray in the treatment of non-specific recurrent / chronic pharyngitis - a trial study

Abstract

Objective

Non-Specific Chronic/Recurrent Pharyngitis is a diagnosis with no definite effective treatment. An array of drugs and therapies has been tried from local applications like Mandl’s paint and throat gargles to anxiolytics. None have proved of therapeutic benefit. This trial study is a Pilot study of its kind in to the effectiveness of nasal steroid spray in the treatment of non-specific chronic pharyngitis. This is a prospective randomized study.

Setting

Study done in medical college with ambulatory patients centre.

Patients

53 patients were taken up for the study though only 42 could be followed up for a period of 1–2.5 years. Selection done on the basis of symptoms avoiding extreme age groups and subjective persistent relief was central to be considered proof of effectiveness of the treatment. Fluticasone Nasal Spray was used in the study.

Results

35 patients (83.3%) reported some degree of relief in symptoms. 68% had >90% relief of symptoms with only a total of 1–2 sprays. There were 7 failures. Side effects were negligible.

Conclusion

Nasal steroid spray is therefore recommended as a most cost-effective, safe treatment method for well-selected cases of Chronic Non-Specific Pharyngitis.