Keywords
Flunisolide
Intranasal corticosteroid
Loratidine
Montelukast
Nasal congestion
Rhinorrhea
How to Cite
Abstract
Objective: To compare the efficacy of flunisolide nasal spray with combined oral antihistamine and leukotriene receptor inhibitor therapy in improving symptoms among patients with allergic rhinitis (AR).
Methods: This quasi-experimental comparative study was conducted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology over nine months after ethical approval. A total of 100 adults (18–45 years) with AR were enrolled and divided into two groups (n = 50 each) using a non-probability consecutive sampling method. Group A received oral loratadine (10 mg) plus montelukast (10 mg), whereas Group B received flunisolide nasal spray (100 µg, two puffs per nostril twice daily). Total nasal symptom scores (TNSS) were recorded at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after treatment. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23, and the Mann–Whitney U test was applied to compare treatment outcomes using TNSS between both groups, with P ≤ .05 considered significant.
Results: A total of 100 patients (50 per group) were included in the study. Baseline TNSS was comparable between the groups (P = .659). No significant difference was observed at 1st follow-up (P = .979), while at 2nd follow-up, Group B showed a significantly lower TNSS (P < .001). After adjusting for age and baseline TNSS, the results at 2nd follow-up remained significant, favouring flunisolide therapy (B = −0.719, 95% CI: −1.181 to −0.257; P = .003) with a moderate effect size (r=.35).
Conclusion: Flunisolide nasal spray was more effective than combined oral antihistamine–leukotriene therapy and may be preferred as a first-line treatment for AR.
Keywords: Allergic rhinitis, Flunisolide, Intranasal corticosteroids, Loratadine, Montelukast, Nasal congestion, Rhinorrhea
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