A new study has found that a basic nasal spray greatly decreased children’s snoring, respiratory issues, and the need for tonsil removal.
Nasal spray effective as anti-inflammatory steroids
According to the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute study published in JAMA Pediatrics, the saline nasal spray is effective in treating snoring in children just like anti-inflammatory steroids. In addition, findings indicate that tonsils and adenoids were only required to be removed in roughly 40% of cases where nasal sprays were used to treat symptoms while sleeping.
With over 40,000 operations per year, tonsillectomy is the most prevalent elective surgery for kids in Australia. However, the treatment, frequently performed to cure children’s snoring, is expensive, uncomfortable, and places a considerable financial strain on hospitals.
Victorian children frequently waited over a year in the public health system for an operation to remove their adenoids and tonsils, according to Dr Alice Baker of Murdoch Children’s, necessitating the search for an alternative cure for sleep apnea. However, she also suggested that some kids may be undergoing adenoids and tonsil removal needlessly.
Nasal spray helps alleviate symptoms of nasal congestion
Dr Baker said that nasal sprays help relieve symptoms by clearing the nose or lowering inflammation in the nose and the tonsils and adenoids towards the throat’s back. About 12% of kids have breathing disorders and snore when they sleep, which can seriously affect behaviour, heart health, and cognitive performance.
The study, according to associate professor Kirsten Perrett at Murdoch Children’s, indicated that many children with sleep-obstructed breathing might be treated by their general practitioner (GP) without necessarily needing to be referred to specialized services as is usually advised.
She explained that the majority of kids that snore have respiratory problems that can be treated by primary care physicians using the intranasal saline spray for six weeks as the first line of treatment. Using this less expensive and accessible treatment might improve the children’s well-being, lessen the strain on specialized services, reduce surgery waiting times, and lower hospital expenses.
