Review Articles

Treating acute rhinitis and exacerbations of chronic rhinitis – A role for topical decongestants?

Robin J. Green, Charles Feldman, Andre van Niekerk, Marinda McDonald, Raymond Friedman, Guy A. Richards
South African Family Practice | Vol 62, No 1 : Part 2| a5053 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v62i1.5053 | © 2020 Robin J. Green, Charles Feldman, Andre van Niekerk, Marinda McDonald, Raymond Friedman, Guy A. Richards | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 26 November 2019 | Published: 24 March 2020

About the author(s)

Robin J. Green, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Charles Feldman, Departments of Critical Care and Internal Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Andre van Niekerk, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; and, Private Practice, Netcare Clinton Clinic, Alberton, Gauteng, South Africa
Marinda McDonald, The Allergy Clinic, Blairgowrie, Johannesburg, South Africa
Raymond Friedman, Private Practice, Mediclinic, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa
Guy A. Richards, Departments of Critical Care and Internal Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

Acute nasal symptoms are troublesome for patients. In addition, these symptoms are encountered frequently by individuals because of common infectious diseases, especially rhinovirus, giving rise to a ‘common cold’. Acute nasal symptoms include rhinorrhoea, sneezing, nasal itch and congestion. Of these, nasal congestion is the most irritating. Because topical nasal decongestants provide rapid and dramatic relief from these symptoms, especially nasal congestion, they are frequently used and abused by patients. Guidance for indications, choice of most efficacious decongestant and recommendations for limiting side effects are thus essential to be imparted to patients by doctors.

Keywords

acute rhinitis; nasal congestion; topical nasal decongestants

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