Comparative study of three different electromagnetic waves in treatment of allergic rhinitis

    PENG Nan, ZHANG Chunª²Niu, MA Aiª²Min, BAO Weiª²Xia

    1Department of Physiotherapy, PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China, 2Department of Physiotherapy, Dalian Second Sanatorium, Shenyang Military Command, Dalian 116000, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To study the therapeutic effect of three different electromagnetic waves on allergic rhinitis and to explore new approaches of its clinical application. METHODS: One hundred and fiftyª²nine patients diagnosed as allergic rhinitis were randomly divided into three groups. For the patients in group 1, bilateral yingxiang, an acupuncture point, were irradiated with millimeter wave at a power density less than 10 mW/cm2 for 20 min, once daily. For the patients in group 2, bilateral sides of the nose were irradiated with radiofrequency wave, mild heating, 10-15 min, once daily. For the patients in group 3, nasal mucosa was irradiated with shortª²wave ultraviolet wave, 8 MED~, once daily. RESULTS: The total effectiveness rate was 68.0% in millimeter wave group, 59.3% in shortª²wave ultraviolet group and 29.1% in radiofrequency wave group. The difference in the treatment effects between the groups was markedly significant (P<0.01). Six patients in the short wave ultraviolet rays group and 5 in the radiofrequency group complained respectively of nasal dryness and transient dizziness after treatment. CONCLUSION: Millimeter wave and shortª²wave ultraviolet rays are much more effective than radiofrequency wave in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and ultraviolet irradiation is simple to perform. The three electromagnetic waver have little side effects on the treatment of allergic rhinitis. ......