Botox Sponge Replaces Needles for Rhinitis Patients

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- German researchers may have found a pain-free treatment for sneezing and sniffling rhinitis patients, replacing needles with soft sponges.

Millions of American rhinitis patients suffer from an inflamed inner lining of their nose, causing itching, congestion and sneezing. Until now, doctors treated this condition with botulinum toxin (Botox) injections. Researchers now say that sponges soaked with Botox may produce the same results.

The University Medical Center Gottingen, Germany, conducted a study in which their sponge-treated patients kept a 'nose diary' for twelve weeks following treatment. Participants inserted Botox-soaked sponges in their noses for 30 minutes.  Participants recorded their daily sneezes, tissue use and congestion for the next 12 weeks. Treated patients significantly improved in all three categories.

“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," Rainer Laskai, lead researcher at the University was quoted as saying.

SOURCE: BioMed Central's open access journal, Head & Face Medicine,  2009

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