Evaluation of Olfactory Thresholds in Patients of Allergic Rhinitis: Pre and Post Intranasal Steroid Therapy

characterized by one or more symptoms, including sneezing,itching, nasal congestion and rhinorrhoea along with usualsymptoms, and there is generally a decrease in the nasal airflowtherefore decrease in nasal air exchange, thereby decreasingthe rate of olfactory nerve ending stimulation hence decreasingthe perception of smell. We assessed the olfactory thresholdsin patients of allergic rhinitis using n-butanol solutions and theimpact of intranasal fluticasone furoate therapy on olfaction.Materials and methods: One hundred fifty patients withallergic rhinitis in the age group of 18 to 65 years were included.A total of 150 people from the general population as controls.In 6 weeks of fluticasone furoate nasal spray was administeredfor 6 weeks and olfactory threshold changes were observedat the end.Results: A significant change in n-butanol olfaction levels aftersteroid therapy was observed (p-value < 0.05).Conclusion: Intranasal steroid therapy shows remarkablebenefit in the improvement of allergic rhinitis and therebyimproving olfaction.