Title:  Xylitol nose spray

United States Patent:  6,258,372

Appl. No.:  517929

Nasopharyngeal congestion, irritation, and inflammation and associated upper respiratory infections such a otitis media, sinusitis are adjunctivly treated and prevented by nasal application of xylitol/xylose in a saline solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

(1) Progressive Contribution to the Art

The first level of response of the immune system is to try and wash out the irritated area. In upper respiratory infections this usually translates into nasal congestion because the immune system gets the fluid it needs for this washing and dilating blood vessels in the area. The traditional response to these symptoms is to turn off the immune response by a decongestant or antihistamine. A treatment much more respectful of the wisdom of the immune system is to facilitate it in the attempt to wash the irritated area.

I have discovered that the use of xylitol in a saline solution as a nasal spray is a beneficial means for delivering xylitol more efficiently to the nasopharynx. It avoids the dilution associated with ingestion, absorption, metabolism and circulation to the nose where it is active, that is present with oral delivery. Xylitol's effect, even when given orally, is in the nasopharynx. Because of this it is possible to deliver a pleasant nasal spray containing almost three orders of magnitude less than that given orally to accomplish similar results. Use of this spray results in cleaning of the nasopharynx, reduction of the bacterial count in the nasopharynx and a reduction in infections associated with those bacteria. Because the bacteria are not killed, resistance is not as big a problem. The use of this spray as adjunctive treatment of appropriate infections reduces the need for second and third generation antibiotics. "Resistant" strains of strep mutans that can metabolize xylitol have been isolated in the mouth, but they are more friendly and less cariogenic (Trahan, 1995). Use of this cleansing solution translates into less otitis and sinusitis. Where asthma is triggered by upper respiratory inflammation, an amelioration of the severity of the asthma is accomplished. The addition of xylitol/xylose to conventional nasal sprays is an efficient method of administration. It is particularly useful with infants younger than two years who cannot chew gum.

(2) Objects of this Invention

An object of this invention is to reduce infections of the nasopharynx and symptoms associated with these infections.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means to clean the nasopharynx and reduce the population of the pathogenic bacterial resident there.

A further object of this invention is to reduce otitis, sinusitis and, where asthma is triggered by inflammation of the upper airway, a reduction in the severity of asthma.

Another object of this invention is to efficiently deliver xylitol/xylose for the adjunctive treatment of nasopharyngeal infections.

Other objects are to achieve the above with a method that is rapid, effective, efficient, natural, safe, and inexpensive, and does not require highly skilled people to formulate and administer.

Further objects are to achieve the above with a product that has a long storage life, is safe, versatile, efficient, stable and reliable, yet is inexpensive and easy to formulate and administer.

Claim 1 of 11 Claims

I claim as my invention:

1. An aqueous solution for nasal use comprising by weight 100 parts of water, between 65 parts to 1 part of xylitol/xylose, and between 0.95 and 0.45 parts of sodium chloride.

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