Alpha™-SH – In Acute Rhinosinusitis: A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study

Author: Snigdha Suman Dalua , Dr. Poorva Tiwari

Rhinosinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and the paranasal sinuses of different causes (viral / bacterial / fungal infection, allergic, immunological, chemical irritation etc.). It is a common disorder affecting all age groups and broad levels of the population. Its prevalence is high and apparently increasing. In the United States of America prevalence of rhinosinusitis was 16.3 % in 1998. In Germany 6.3 million cases of acute and 2.6 million cases of chronic rhinosinusitis ( were diagnosed close to 9 million cases in total) during the year 2000. Though reports from India are less, clinicians witness increasing number of cases in the last few years. A study found that the prevalence of fungal rhinosinusitis 1 was 30% of all the rhinosinusitis cases. Another study has found that the incidence of sinonasal mycotic infection is about 2 10% of chronic rhinosinusitis. Rhinopharyngitis is most often caused by viruses, in which 0.5 – 3% a secondary infection with bacteria can be detected. Up to 87 % of upper respiratory tract infections cause a concomitant infection of the paranasal sinuses (at least detectable via CT scan).