Our allergy service is first to use hay fever busting machine
July 30, 2018
We have become the first NHS Trust in the UK to introduce a new device which can help combat the symptoms allergic rhinitis – more commonly known as hay fever.
The Rhinolight machine, has been loaned to our paediatric allergy service by the Hungarian company that first developed it.
Dr Nick Makwana first heard of the device during a conference and was interested to hear that it was used in many European countries as well as Australia, and closer to home, in Ireland but had not been used in the UK yet.
The device is used to direct controlled doses of uVA, uVB and visible light up each nostril with the aim of reducing the symptoms. It zaps the cells that cause hay fever and reduces the chemicals that lead to the inflammation.
It is usually administered during the hay fever season when symptoms have begun. The patient would undergo six sessions over a two week period which should lead to symptom reduction for the rest of the summer.
Play Specialist, Beena Parmar helped raise £1,100 towards the final purchase of the device through organising events through her Gujarati community.
Dr Nick Makwana, Consultant Paediatrician, said: “We are very grateful to Beena for her fundraising efforts.
“It means that if we can demonstrate that the device works in our young population then we will be leading the way in treating young patients who suffer from hay fever and the money raised will go towards the purchase of the Rhinolight.
“This year in particular has seen a rise in the number of people showing symptoms because of the heatwave across the country, but studies have shown that this treatment works very well in tackling hay fever, and the patient will most likely be cured for the rest of the season.”
He went on to explain how the machine works: “The probe has a special ultra-violet light mix which is inserted into the end of the nose and then changes the cells in the nose which usually trigger the allergic reaction.
“There is no pain involved which is why it is a great treatment for children. This will also save money for the NHS as, if the symptoms become controlled, then there will be less visits to the GP and less prescriptions for medicines to help battle the symptoms of hay fever.”
Beena, who has worked at our organisation for 21 years, said: “Every year my temple, BPM Krishna Mandir in Sparkbrook, has a chosen charity which it fundraises for.
“There are many children within the Gujarati community who suffer from allergies and I wanted to raise more awareness around it, so they agreed to hold a dinner and dance in aid of our paediatrics department.
“Dr Makwana visited the temple and told them that the money would go towards the Rhinolight machine.
“We raised a total of £1,100 and I am so pleased that we were able to fund the purchase of this machine.
“It is going to help a lot of children coming to use our service.”