Nasal rinsing or irrigation is an increasingly popular technique to manage hayfever and other irritants in the nose. It involves pouring or squirting a solution into the nose to help wash out microbes, mucus and other debris such as dust or allergens.

There are specialised containers called neti pots that are used to pour water into one nostril, allowing it to run out of the other by tilting your head to the side. Water bottles and other specialised sprays pre-filled with saline solution can also be used.

But the practice is not without its risks, not least because if not done with sterile water it can introduce germs into the body. A small number of people, especially those with weakened immune systems, have even died from diseases caught through nasal rinsing.

So how can allergy sufferers reap the benefits of nasal rinsing while avoiding the pitfalls?

Rinsing the nasal passages with any liquid – sterile or otherwise – may increase the risk of infection. The nose is home to a host of microbes, which help protect body surfaces. Rinsing may remove or kill these good microbes, providing an opportunity for pathogens to enter the body.

However, the biggest risk comes from germs that might be in the liquid – so any fluid poured into the nose should be sterile. The sterile nasal sprays available widely from pharmacies, for example, are not associated with this risk. But tap water is not sterile.

A recent study........

© The Conversation