Authors: Cingi, Cemal¹; Yaz, Aytekin²; Cakli, Hamdi²; Ozudogru, Erkan²; Kecik, Cem²; Bal, Cengiz³

Source: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Volume 266, Number 12, December 2009 , pp. 1903-1908(6)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

Phototherapy, using a combination of UV-A (25%), UV-B (5%) and visible light (70%), is known to be affective in suppressing the clinical symptoms of allergic rhinitis significantly. It has also been shown that phototherapy locally reduces the number of inflammatory cells and the level of mediators. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of phototherapy in improving the quality of life of patients with allergic rhinitis using Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire, besides checking the total symptom scores of 100 consecutive cases. When the previous and after treatment data were compared, statistically significant differences were found in all quality of life variables (P < 0.001). These results suggest that phototherapy is an effective method to relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis and has a positive effect on the quality of life of allergic patients. Further studies are needed to plan an ongoing treatment of phototherapy at certain intervals for continuous relief of symptoms and a better and longstanding quality of life.

Keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Phototherapy; UV light; RQLQ; Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire; Quality of life

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00405-009-1048-y

Affiliations: 1: ENT Department, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Sumer Mah. Kar Sokak 10/3, 26020, Eskisehir, Turkey, Email: ccingi@ogu.edu.tr 2: ENT Department, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Sumer Mah. Kar Sokak 10/3, 26020, Eskisehir, Turkey 3: Biostatistics Department, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey

Publication date: 2009-12-01

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