Intranasal topical flunisolide therapy in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis

This study tested the effectiveness of flunisolide in the treatment of children with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Thirty-five children between the ages of 5 and 14 years used an intransal preparation of either flunisolide (200 micrograms/day) or placebo for a 6-week double-blind parallel trial consisting of a 2-week baseline phase and a 4-week treatment phase, conducted during a period of 'high' pollen counts in Adelaide, South Australia. Flunisolide was effective in reducing four symptoms of hay fever: sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose and eye itch. Sixty-four percent of the flunisolide-treated group and 33% of the placebo-treated group noted substantial or total control of their hay fever symptoms (P < 0.05). The effect of the intranasal administration of flunisolide on the pituitary-adrenal axis was monitored by performing plasma cortisol measurements (a.m. and p.m.) and 24-hr urinary free cortisol excretion studies for each patient. The data confirmed that 200 micrograms/day intranasal flunisolide does not suppress the pituitary-adrenal-axis in this young patient population.