Role of Nasal irrigation in treatment of acute sinusitis [comparative study between alkaline nasal wash and curcumin herbal extract]

ABSTRACT

Acute sinusitis treatment may be with medications such as antibiotics or in few cases surgery. Natural options are also available. The present study was done to evaluate the efficacy of curcumin herbal extract as nasal irrigation versus alkaline nasal wash as an adjuvant treatment of acute sinusitis. Ninety patients were enrolled in this study, suffering from acute sinusitis. Patients were taken from outpatient clinic of multicenters in Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia from Jan. to June 2009 their age ranged from 25-48 years [mean 32 +/- 2 years]. There were 60 males and 30 females. Patients were divided into 3 equal groups. The first group was treated with curcumin nasal spray 3m1 in each nostril of concentration 1mg/ml twice daily for 10 days. Another group was treated by standerized alkaline nasal wash for 10 days [3 times daily] Both groups also were given the ordinary treatment in the form of antibiotics, analgesic and mucolytics. The third group was given the ordinary treatment only for 10 days .The results of the present study showed a considerable difference between nasal curcumin treatment and other groups. Nasal curcumin was superior to alkaline nasal wash in reducing or eliminating symptoms of acute sinusitis also endoscopically the curcumin group showed a considerable improving for both nasal mucosa and clearance of nasal discharge. Curcumin herbal treatment could help in treatment of acute sinusitis by its anti inflamatory, anti microbial effects