Paciente con rinitis alérgica

Abstract

Background Any allergic problem is a functional disease and therefore accessible to functional therapies such as acupuncture. This case report of a 25 year-old female patient who in her childhood suffered from eczema and rhinitis due to cat-hair allergy and who over the recent years has developed a mite allergy causing persistent pain in the sinuses demonstrates how allergic problems can be treated using acupuncture and related techniques. In addition to well-established acupuncture points, three experts will show further methods to alleviate allergic symptoms. Objective The aim of treating patients with allergic disposition is to reduce symptoms as well as the use of antihistaminic drugs. Treatment should also prevent an aggravation of symptoms, for instance from allergic rhinitis to allergic asthma. Methods One acupuncture session per week over the course of 10 weeks. Results The patient's symptoms in the present case could be reduced by about 50%. This result remained stable throughout the following 6 months. There was no follow up. Discussion Acupuncture can alleviate allergic symptoms but should always be combined with the appropriate diet as well as physical exercise. Clinical studies have brought inhomogenous results. However, long-term observations collected at the Kaiserin Elisabeth-Hospital in Vienna suggest that acupuncture administered as a therapy against allergic rhinitis should be initialized preseasonally and be administered annually over the course of 10 weeks.