No need for needles: Botox sponge treats intrinsic rhinitis

Rainer Laskawi (ENT-Department) worked with a team of researchers from the University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany, to test the effectiveness of the botox sponge. He said, "Intrinsic rhinitis affects a lot of patients and can be quite disabling for the patient. Botox injections can help, and we wanted to explore a less invasive alternative".

The researchers inserted sponges into the patients' nostrils for 30 minutes, which were soaked with botox directly after the insertion. The patients then kept a 'nose diary' for the next twelve weeks, detailing sneezes per day, tissues used and a 'congestion score'. A group of patients who received the treatment scored better on all aspects. According to Laskawi, "We've shown that the minimally invasive application method of BTA with a sponge is a safe, painless method which can lead to a long lasting reduction of nasal hypersecretion".

It may be hypothized that there exits a certain form of a "botulinum toxin-sensitive" intrinsic rhinitis.

More information: Minimally invasive application of botulinum toxin A in patients with idiopathic rhinitis, Saskia Rohrbach, Katharina Junghans, Sibylle Köhler and Rainer Laskawi, Head & Face Medicine (in press), http://www.head-face-med.com/

Source: BioMed Central (news : web)