The findings of a recent study demonstrated that in individuals suffering from chronic rhinitis, topical application of 10% silver nitrate solution over the inferior turbinate mucosa is a simple, cost-effective and safe procedure for minimizing the symptoms of sneezing. Moreover, it improves the quality of life with corresponding histological changes.

Researchers undertook this prospective cohort assessment for ascertaining the effect of silver nitrate solution on inferior turbinate mucosa and quality of life in people with chronic rhinitis causing intractable sneezing (>10 sneezes/day) or watery rhinorrhoea and who did not respond adequately to the conventional medication therapy.

Silver nitrate solution was applied to the inferior turbinate mucosa of 67 participants. The mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) score and the number of sneezes/day were evaluated prior to and 8 to 16 weeks following therapy. For examining histological alterations, the pre and post-therapy turbinate biopsies were carried out.

At baseline, 67 people had a  mean mini RQLQ score of 4.0 ± 0.7 and a mean of 36.6 sneezes/day. The pre-therapy biopsies revealed epithelial denudation and hyalinization of the basement membrane. At one week and 8-16 weeks, about 95.5% of people (64/67) displayed a remarkable decline in the number of sneezes (mean = 5.5 ± 7.8) after the application of silver nitrate. A decrease in the post-therapy mean global mini RQLQ score was also noted (mean = 1.3 ± 1.1).

As found, in 70.1% of participants, a single sitting of silver nitrate cauterisation was sufficient without any complications. After treatment, an occurrence of epithelial hyperplasia and squamous metaplasia along with epithelial and basement membrane restoration was observed. Thus, topically applied silver nitrate solution is beneficial to alleviate symptoms of chronic rhinitis.