Could 'Nasal Filter' Device Help Ease Allergies?
Could 'Nasal Filter' Device Help Ease Allergies?
It appeared to reduce sneezing, runny nose in small, preliminary study, but more testing needed, doctors say
The study found no difference in airflow between those wearing the filter and those wearing the placebo, suggesting that wearing the nasal filter didn't force people to breathe through their mouths.
The device is disposable and is meant to only be worn for a day, Kenney said. "Some people will probably use them for an entire day whereas others might just use them when they are in an exposed environment [such as a park]," he said.
Only one person in the study mentioned any concern about appearance, according to Kenney. He said that once people get used to wearing the nasal filters, they won't notice them, much like people don't notice wearing rings or contact lenses.
Kenney said because the filters aren't yet in production, there's no word yet on cost.
Dr. Mark Glaum, vice chair of the rhinitis, rhinosinusitis and ocular allergy committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, said the nasal filter could be an option for someone who doesn't have eye symptoms from their allergies.
"For certain individuals who want to try allergen avoidance rather than medications, this might be a more practical solution than wearing a mask. It's less obvious and more cosmetically appealing than a mask," he said.
"The changes in symptoms weren't huge, but for people with just nasal symptoms, it might help to a degree. It wouldn't do anything to improve eye symptoms though," noted Glaum, who's also an associate professor of medicine and pediatrics in the division of allergy and immunology at Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida.
Glaum said he'd like to see the study repeated on a larger group of people to see if the results are similar. Kenney said a larger trial is already being planned.
The study was published as a letter to the editor in the March 7 online Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Could 'Nasal Filter' Device Help Ease Allergies?
It appeared to reduce sneezing, runny nose in small, preliminary study, but more testing needed, doctors say
The study found no difference in airflow between those wearing the filter and those wearing the placebo, suggesting that wearing the nasal filter didn't force people to breathe through their mouths.
The device is disposable and is meant to only be worn for a day, Kenney said. "Some people will probably use them for an entire day whereas others might just use them when they are in an exposed environment [such as a park]," he said.
Only one person in the study mentioned any concern about appearance, according to Kenney. He said that once people get used to wearing the nasal filters, they won't notice them, much like people don't notice wearing rings or contact lenses.
Kenney said because the filters aren't yet in production, there's no word yet on cost.
Dr. Mark Glaum, vice chair of the rhinitis, rhinosinusitis and ocular allergy committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, said the nasal filter could be an option for someone who doesn't have eye symptoms from their allergies.
"For certain individuals who want to try allergen avoidance rather than medications, this might be a more practical solution than wearing a mask. It's less obvious and more cosmetically appealing than a mask," he said.
"The changes in symptoms weren't huge, but for people with just nasal symptoms, it might help to a degree. It wouldn't do anything to improve eye symptoms though," noted Glaum, who's also an associate professor of medicine and pediatrics in the division of allergy and immunology at Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida.
Glaum said he'd like to see the study repeated on a larger group of people to see if the results are similar. Kenney said a larger trial is already being planned.
The study was published as a letter to the editor in the March 7 online Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
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