Topical Treatment in Rhinology

Abstract

Far from being exhaustive, this paper aims to review the most illustrative topical therapies in rhinology, to show their patterns of action and their most suggestive characteristics proven by clinical trials and meta-analyses as tools of evidence based medecine. We describe several therapeutic clases: decongestants, antihistaminics, anticholinergics, antibiotics, disinfectants, antimicotics, fitotherapeutics, vitamins, immunotherapy and compounds. Furthermore, the nose is increasingly being used for the delivery of other drugs, ranging from hormone replacement therapy and growth hormone to insulin and anti-migraine medication (sumatriptan). The ability to directly reach the neuronal tissue in the olfactory niche and hence the brain makes this a very attractive challenge.