Nasal saline irrigation in preschool children: a survey of attitudes and prescribing habits of primary care pediatricians working in northern Italy

Table 2 Primary care pediatricians’ use of nasal saline irrigation in pre-school children

Parameter	Possible answers	No. of primary care pediatricians	Percentage
Percentage of pre-school children for whom NSI is recommended
	None	6/860	0.7
	<25%	44/860	5.1
	25-75%	452/860	52.5
	>75%	358/860	41.6
Age of patients for whom NSI is considered important
	All pre-school years	473/854	43.7
	<1 year	323/854	37.8
	1-2 year	37/854	4.3
	2-3 years	121/854	14.2
Use of NSI for upper respiratory tract diseases
	Treatment of acute phase	339/854	39.7
	Prophylaxis in healthy children	515/854	60.3
Frequency of therapeutic administration of NSI
	Once per day	317/854	37.1
	2-3 times per day	412/854	48.2
	>3 times per day	125/854	14.7
Frequency of prophylactic administration of NSI
	Never	339/854	39.7
	Daily	80/515	15.5
	3-4 times per week	435/515	84.5
Type of solution
	Isotonic saline solution	743/854	87.0
	Hypertonic saline solution	67/854	7.8
	Hypotonic saline solution	44/854	5.2
Method of administration
	Spray	578/854	67.7
	Bulb syringe	176/854	20.6
	Gravity	100/854	11.7
Volume of solution recommended for NSI
	Depending on patient age	196/854	23.0
	5-20 mL per nostril	241/854	28.2
	5 mL per nostril	157/854	18.4
	2.5 mL per nostril	177/854	20.7
	Other	83/854	9.7
Final evaluation of efficacy and safety of NSI
	Effective and safe	845/860	98.3
	Effective but poorly tolerated	9/860	1.0
	Ineffective	2/860	0.2
	No opinion	4/860	0.5

ISSN: 1824-7288