April 8, 2002

Springtime Allergy Question: Should Sufferers Pop a Pill or Use a Nasal Spray?

If you're sniffling and sneezing right now, you may be one of the nearly 40 million Americans who suffer from nasal allergies. A Saint Louis University allergist has some important advice for people plagued by such springtime complaints.

Dr. Mark Dykewicz of Saint Louis University says the first rule in treating allergies is to get rid of the allergen. But because this is not always possible, there are many treatment options, including over-the-counter and prescription medications. Not all nasal allergy treatments are created equal, he cautions.

Though many people may pop a pill to help with their allergies, a better choice for some may be a nasal spray, says Dykewicz, associate professor of internal medicine and director of the training program in allergy and immunology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

Intranasal corticosteroid sprays are recognized by experts as a highly effective treatment in relieving the symptoms of nasal allergies, Dykewicz says.

"The effectiveness of antihistamines can vary," Dykewicz says. " For some people they can be very effective. But the problem is for many people they're not effective enough. Other medications, such as the nasal corticosteroids, can do a better job."

What nasal allergy sufferers may not know is nasal inflammation can trigger those annoying nasal allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny, itchy nose and congestion. Intranasal corticosteroids help relieve the underlying cause of nasal allergy symptoms by reducing nasal inflammation, Dykewicz said.

Dr. Dykewicz says one of the advantages of intranasal corticosteroids is that they are delivered directly at the site of inflammation in the nose.

"Allergic rhinitis has a number of things going on," he said. "It includes the production of chemicals, only one of which is histamine. But also you see the invasion of the inflammatory cells. And by using the intranasal corticosteroids you are addressing several of these problems as opposed to just one, and that's why they tend to be more effective."

Aside from getting relief, there's another reason to consider treating your nasal allergies effectively. New data from the World Health Organization says if left untreated, nasal allergies may lead to other respiratory problems such as asthma.

Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has the distinction of awarding the first M.D. degree west of the Mississippi River. Saint Louis University School of Medicine is a pioneer in geriatric medicine, organ transplantation, chronic disease prevention, cardiovascular disease, neurosciences and vaccine research, among others. The School of Medicine trains physicians and biomedical scientists, conducts medical research, and provides health services on a local, national and international level.