Efficiency of Propolis and N-acetylcisteine on Reduction in Symptom Severity of Respiratory Infection in Children with Adenoid Hypertrophy

Children with adenoid hypertrophy show a tendency towards recurrent or chronic middle ear infection, acute rhinitis or other infections of the upper airway. The purpose of this study was to examine efficacy and safety of combination of N-acetylcysteine and propolis oral suspension and nasal spray in children with adenoid hypertrophy. Method. The clinical trial included children with adenoid hypertrophy. Children in the experimental group were given oral suspension with combination of N-acetylcysteine and propolis, at the first and the second appointment with otorhinolaryngologist, parents of the children were evaluating the intensity of 6 different symptoms, data on otoscopic status were collected, nose and pharynx were examined, audilogical analysis was carried out and nasal swab was used to carry out a microbiological analysis. The control group included children with enlarged adenoids who used hypertonic nasal spray. Key findings. There was a statistically significant reduce of a nasal discharge intensity (p < 0.001), nasal congestion (p = 0.010), sneezing (p = 0.013), post-nasal drip (p = 0.034), cough (p < 0.001) as well as hearing loss (p = 0.002) in experimental group after treatment. Positive effect on nasal congestion, post-nasal drip and cough, recorded during the second appointment, was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control one (respectively p = 0.04; p = 0.034; p < 0.001), while in the case of a nasal discharge, sneezing and hearing loss there was no difference in effect between the experimental and the control group. Conclusion. The combination of N-acetylcysteine and propolis has justified use for reduction in symptom severity of respiratory infections in children with adenoid hypertrophy.