Nose Plugs May Help
Relieve Hay Fever Woes

LONDON (Reuters) - Instead of using drugs and nasal sprays, hay fever sufferers could get relief from nose plugs that filter out the pollen that makes their lives a misery.

Scientists at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia have developed nose plugs with sticky filters that do not get clogged so breathing is not impeded.

"The researchers envisage people using their filters when they go outside or on days when the pollen count is likely to be high," New Scientist magazine said Wednesday.

Preliminary trials of the nose plugs showed they may be more effective than current medications for hay fever.

"We were surprised at how big the effect was," Tim O'Meara, a member of the team that developed them, told the magazine.

"Similar studies with antihistamines tend to get smaller differences."

The key to the nose plugs is the special filter that catches pollens before they enter the nasal cavity. The scientists believe the plugs could be particularly useful for hay fever sufferers who cannot use nasal steroids or antihistamines.

The devices may also help relieve other allergies, including asthma. The researchers, who are still improving the nasal plugs, said they will not be on the market for at least two years.

Reference Source 89

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