1.   Medical treatment for chronic sinusitis includes antibiotics, decongestants, antihistamines to control allergy symptoms and nasal steroid sprays.

2.   Steroid nasal sprays can also be used to improve regular breathing.

3.   Steroid nasal sprays reduce inflammation in the nasal passages and sinuses.

4.   Steroid sprays include Vancenase, Beconase, Nasacort and Nasalide and two new ones, Flonase and Rhinocort.

5.   The commonly used steroid nasal sprays for allergies were not associated with any risk to the eye, says the study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

6.   This approach is being used increasingly less often, however, because the non-sedating anti-histamines and steroid nasal sprays seem to work so well.

7.   Some doctors have been reluctant to prescribe steroid nasal sprays because of concerns about side effects, which include dry nose and nasal bleeding.

8.   Steroid nasal sprays are more effective than prescription antihistamines when used as needed to treat hay fever and other seasonal allergies, a study suggests.

9.   The researchers said their work confirms the effectiveness of steroid sprays.