Treatment of Nasal Congestion and Prevention of Rhinitis Medicamentosa

Nasal congestion is one of the leading symptoms of rhinitis and rhinosinusitis. Excessive use of nasal decongestant sprays can cause rebound congestion and rhinitis medicamentosa. In order to prevent the rebound congestion use of topical and systemic decongestants should be restricted to no more than five days; moisturizing nasal ointments, gels or sprays should be administered simultaneously with decongestant agent; hypertonic saline should be used instead of decongestant agent in the case of mild nasal congestion, as well as humidifiers and vaporizers; intranasal glucocorticoid should be administered in the case of allergic rhinitis.